Nutrient in Broccoli Slows Breast Cancer Cell Growth: A New Study

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables have a compound which slows breast cancer cells growth. Especially it happens at early stage of cancer. 

It was known before that Sulforaphane can prevent cancer. In the new study, researchers at Oregon State University(OSU) and the Oregon Health and Science University found that sulforaphane may also play role in slowing cancer cells growth. Xinhua published a report on the study.

Researchers found the result from the first clinical studies which was conducted to look at the effects of sulforaphane on breast cells of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer.

One of the researchers said that their goal was to understand whether sulforaphane compounds are tolerated and alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms which are involved in breast cancer. 

Researchers gave either a placebo or supplements which provided sulforaphane to 54 women who had abnormal mammograms. The women received the equal amount of sulforaphane which they could receive from one cup of broccoli sprouts in a day. The researchers were surprised to see that the cell growth decreased. That means the compounds might have helped to slow the growth of cancer cells.

One researcher said that the study result was encouraging because it had been thought traditionally that dietary approaches limited to cancer prevention, but the new study demonstrated that it could help slow the growth of existing tumors.

The Journal Cancer Prevention Research Published the new study. NDTV reported it on Feb 14, 2016. According to a researchers, now it is possible to add sulforaphane to traditional approaches to breast cancer therapy. But more studies are needed to evaluate many things such as dose responses, the responses of other relevant molecular targets and work with large populations, researchers said.

The top cancer in women is Breast cancer. The situation is the same in both developed and developing countries in the world. Mammography has been proved as the only effective cancer screening method so far. The World Health Organization's(WHO) key message in this regard is, Early detection is the cornerstone of breast cancer control.