Diabetes

Diabetes and Broccoli

A report published in the journal Diabetes suggests that eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels. A research team at the University of Warwick believe that they have found a compound in the vegetable called Sulforaphane which encourages production of enzymes which protect the heart vessels.

What is broccoli?

Broccoli already has been celebrated for its cancer-fighting properties. From previous studies, the researchers already knew that eating lots of vegetables, especially brassicas like broccoli in particular was significantly linked to lower risk of heart disease and stroke. They wondered if this had anything to do with the presence of Sulforaphane which is known to activate a protein called nrf2 (short for NF-E2-related factor-2) which in turn increases protective enzymes against diseases such as cancer and stroke.

What is the benefit?

People with diabetes have a five times greater risk of developing heart disease and stroke. This is because high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) releases harmful molecules such as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which damages the heart blood vessels to cause heart attacks. High blood sugar can cause levels of ROS to increase three-fold and these high levels can cause damage to human cells.

“In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will.” Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley.

What does broccoli do?

British researchers examined the impact of sulforaphane, broccoli's core cancer-fighting chemical, on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels. They found that that eating brocolli could reverse the damage done to heart blood vessels by diabetes (high blood sugar) because the vegetable contains a compound called sulforaphane. This compound stimulated a protein in the body that increased enzymes (Transkelotase, is a key enzyme that changes potentially damaging glucose by products into harmless compounds for safe elimination.)
which protects heart blood vessels and guards cells and tissues from damage by reducing the molecules (such as ROS) that harm them.

What was the study?

For this particular study, researchers wanted to find out if activating nrf2 using sulforaphane would prevent harmful effects of hyperglycaemia in the type of cells found in heart blood vessels. So they cultured human cells in low and high glucose concentrations and assessed the effect of adding sulforaphane on these cells.

What was the result?

• There was a significant reduction in ROS (harmful) molecules
• Sulforaphane doubled the activation of nrf2( good compound)
• leading to increased production of protective enzymes in human cells
• Sulforaphane decreased ROS caused by hyperglycaemia by 73 per cent.

Conclusion?

This indeed confirms my grandmother’s belief in brocolli. It is good for you. Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley said, “In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will.” He suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.

However, Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, cautioned that findings based on research done on cells in the lab is a long way from trials in real human subjects.  

But still you could keep on eating brocolli, and if you have not started yet, its time to begin.

Source: "Activation of NF-E2-related factor-2 reverses biochemical dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycaemia linked to vascular disease." Mingzhan Xue, Qingwen Qian, Adaikalakoteswari Antonysunil, Naila Rabbani, Roya Babaei-Jadidi, and Paul J. Thornalley. The study is published in the online 4^th 2008 August issue of the journal Diabetes.

Tags: broccoli, diabetes, research, study