Can broccoli sprouts prevent stomach cancer?

A daily dose of three-day-old broccoli sprouts supresses the growth of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, according to a new report published in Cancer Prevention Research. H. pylori infections are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and are a major cause of stomach cancer, as well as stomach ulcers.

Broccoli sprouts contain much higher concentrations of the antioxidant sulphoraphane, than the fully grown vegetable. Previous studies done in animals have found sulphurophane supresses the growth of H.pylori, but this study is the first to demonstrate this in people.

In this small study, scientists recruited 48 Japanese men and women infected with H.pylori, and gave them either 70 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts or an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts to eat daily for eight weeks. Alfalfa sprouts do not contain sulphurophane.

Researchers assessed the severity of H.pylori infection at the beginning of the study and at four and eight weeks using standard breath, stool and blood tests.

The researchers found that H.pylori levels were significantly lower by the end of the study, compared to the start in the group of people who had eaten the broccoli sprouts. No change in H.pylori was detectd in the group given alfalfa sprouts to eat. However the broccoli sprouts did not eradicate the bacteria. Once people stopped eating the broccoli sprouts, H.pylori levels returned to the levels found at the start of the study.

Lead researcher Jed Fahey from the John Hopkins School of Medicine commented:

"Broccoli has recently entered the public awareness as a preventive dietary agent. This study supports the emerging evidence that broccoli sprouts may be able to prevent cancer in humans, not just in lab animals."

This article was published on Tue 7 April 2009