Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Tanya--- I have been eating broccoli sprouts because of the reported anti-cancer benefit of the compound, Sulforaphane, that they contain in high amounts. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press...EPT/970903.HTM and http://www.pnas.org/content/89/6/2399.long

I am also concerned with phytoestrogen content of foods and try to limit those in my diet. I haven't been able to locate information on the amount of phytoestrogen in broccoli sprouts and there is conflicting information on the amount in the full grown broccoli plant One reference reports that broccoli contains 1325 mcg lignans per 100 grams http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/lignan.php while another reports the total phytoestrogen content is only 94 mcg. http://www.pkdiet.com/pdf/pld/phytoestrogen.pdf Obviously these can't both be correct.

Do you have a good reference for an accurate listing of the phytoestrogen content of broccoli and its sprouts?

Thank you--

bird

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Bump it up.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Bird,
Unfortunately, I don't have a good reference list for phytoestrogen content of foods. I do know that the phytochemical content of BroccoSpouts is much higher than that in full-grown broccoli. I would suggest contacting the company to see if they have done any testing. There was a great deal of research that went into that particular brand of spouts. In my opinion, the benefit from the Sulfurophane outweighs any risk.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Thank you, Tanya. I'll keep searching and post any useful information I stumble across.

bird

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I eat also a lot of broccoli sprouts. I don't know about phyto-estrogens, only I heard thet fennel is full of estrogen and not healthy for us.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I would think that in general sprouts or seeds of plants have a more concentrated form of whatever nutrients are in the plant itself.
Can you get broccoli seeds or sprouts to plant at home like you can plant other sprouts? That might be a fun experiment and a good way to get a fair amount of them anytime you want. I eat broccoli and/or other vegetables (various cabbages, cauliflour, brussel sprouts, kale etc.) in the same category everyday.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Since my original post on this topic I stopped supplementing with broccoli sprouts. This was after reading the strong opinion cited by a frequent and reliable contributor to the No Surrender Breast Cancer Survivor Forum http://www.nosurrenderbreastcancersu...+harm&trail=40 Basically, I don't know whether eating or not eating broccoli or its sprouts would help or hurt me. So I stopped.

In this sometimes crap shoot world of cancer, nutrition and supplements, I have often found conflicting statements on which is the best way to go. It is hard to be confident without lots of science backing up a particular strategy.

bird

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I'm confused!?! Should we NOT eat broccoli sprouts & cruciferous vegetables? I thought those were cancer preventers? Please help to clarify. I welcome reponses from anyone. Thank you!

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Personally I am still eating broccoli, cauliflour, various kinds of cabbage, and brussel spouts. I have read alot of different documents about these vegetables and I believe the benefits outway anything negative that can be said about them. Maybe Tanya will pop in and give her opinion about this soon.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Didn't find much under 'broccoli', but was able to pull some articles doing a search on 'Sulforaphane'. Here are two of the most recent reports:

J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Implications of cancer stem cell theory for cancer chemoprevention by natural dietary compounds.
Li Y, Wicha MS, Schwartz SJ, Sun D.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Abstract
The emergence of cancer stem cell theory has profound implications for cancer chemoprevention and therapy. Cancer stem cells give rise to the tumor bulk through continuous self-renewal and differentiation. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate self-renewal is of greatest importance for discovery of anticancer drugs targeting cancer stem cells. Naturally occurring dietary compounds have received increasing attention in cancer chemoprevention. The anticancer effects of many dietary components have been reported for both in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently, a number of studies have found that several dietary compounds can directly or indirectly affect cancer stem cell self-renewal pathways. Herein we review the current knowledge of most common natural dietary compounds for their impact on self-renewal pathways and potential effect against cancer stem cells. Three pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog and Notch) are summarized for their functions in self-renewal of cancer stem cells. The dietary compounds, including curcumin, sulforaphane, soy isoflavone, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, lycopene, piperine and vitamin D(3), are discussed for their direct or indirect effect on these self-renewal pathways. Curcumin and piperine have been demonstrated to target breast cancer stem cells. Sulforaphane has been reported to inhibit pancreatic tumor-initiating cells and breast cancer stem cells. These studies provide a basis for preclinical and clinical evaluation of dietary compounds for chemoprevention of cancer stem cells. This may enable us to discover more preventive strategies for cancer management by reducing cancer resistance and recurrence and improving patient survival.

Anticancer Res. 2010 Sep;30(9):3381-90.
Autophagy inhibition enhances sulforaphane-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.
Kanematsu S, Uehara N, Miki H, Yoshizawa K, Kawanaka A, Yuri T, Tsubura A.
Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: Sulforaphane (SFN), which is present in cruciferous vegetables, induces growth arrest and/or cell death in cancer of various organs. The involvement of autophagy in the SFN-induced apoptotic death of human breast cancer cells was investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell proliferation and viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and Western blot analysis were used for detection of apoptosis and autophagy, and the role of autophagy was assessed using autophagy inhibitors.
RESULTS: SFN dose- and time-dependently retarded the growth and induced cell death in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, 30 μM SFN caused S and G2/M cell-cycle arrest associated with increased p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 levels and decreased cyclin A, cyclin B1 and CDC2 levels. Cell death was due to apoptosis with increased caspase-3 and lowered BCL-2 levels. In addition, the SFN-treated cells exhibited autophagy, as characterized by the appearance of autophagic vacuoles by electron microscopy, the accumulation of acidic vesicular organelles by flow cytometry, and the punctuate patterns of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) by fluorescein microscopy. The levels of LC3-I and -II proteins (processed forms of LC3-I) and LC3 mRNA were increased. Treatment with autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (but not 3-methyladenine) with SFN significantly enhanced apoptosis, which was accompanied by increases in the level of BAX and the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP)-1 and decreases in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm).

ps. By the way, just purchased a used copy of 'Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescritions for everything from cold to cancer' through Amazon. It's an economic/safe way to get things I need during this stormy/wintery weather...

Reader's Digest has been heavily advertising it for over a year through e-mails. I finally decided to take a look after noticing the copyright of "Doctor, what should I eat?" (by Isadore Rosenfeld, MD) is dated 1995.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Holly--

I certainly do not know whether it is good to eat more or less than normal amounts of the cruciferous vegtables (brocolli, sprouts, cauliflow, cabbage, etc.) I suspect that it depends on whether a person is actively undergoing treatments with drugs to fight their cancer.

As noted in my last post above, I have read at the link I gave that sulforaphane is the compound in these vegetables that is believed to affect the cellular morphology of the cancer, e.g. primarily stem cells. I think that sulforaphane impacts liver enzymes crucial to the proper metabolization of some of the cancer drugs; so it may be that caution should be taken when considering increasing the amount of sulforaphane in the diet.

The best course of action is probably to discuss this thoroughly with your oncologist before beginning a regimen that significantly increases your dietary intake of these vegetables. Now, for people who have completed their pharmacological assault on their cancer, it may be that increasing the amount of the vegetables is good thing. I just haven't read a definitive study on this matter to answer these questions sufficiently for me.

Good luck to you.

bird

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

More positive news than negative news about broccoli and other vegetables in the same group have come out.
The nutritional values alone are part of the positive news. I am still eating those veggies everyday. I believe good nutrition, including alot of veggies have helped me survive more than 12 years after a terrible diagnosis and a terrible prognosis.

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Broccoli is a very healthy food regardless whether or not it contains cancer fighting chemicals.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...roducts/2357/2

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I'd have to go with the "Yay for Broccoli/Sprouts" side :)

Lisa
www.pinkkitchen.info

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Hema has been and is having fenugreek sprouts.We call it methi here and once it sprouts and has three or four leaves it is used witn chapathi batter or salads.Our local tradition is that it has lots of anti cancer properties

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Mmmm, now that sounds great. And I love chapathi. Maybe I can find some fenugreek sprouts here.

Lisa
http://www.pinkkitchen.info

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I eat broccoli sprouts some days a week in salad, soup or alone. And sometimes I eat mustard sprouts or sun flour pit sprouts. I don't know what's in all these sprouts, but I like a bit variation!
Lisa, what a beautiful pictures you've in the 'Pink kitchen' site. I'll try to find dried organic cherries, a good idea!

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

I've heard that there are many phytoestrogens in broccoli sprouts. I've also heard that broccoli sprouts are incredible at attacking cancer cells. I've spoken to a few people that are knowledgeable in nutrition, and they all say the same thing - when it comes to vegetables, eat the ones that are supposed to play a significant part in reducing cancer cells or when apoptosis is a result. The foods to avoid are soy, flax, sunflower seeds and oil, rye, etc. From what I've learned, when it comes to vegetables, and since they are so powerful in targeting cancer cells, to leave these in your diet as they do more good than harm. Like someone pointed out to me, did I know that lavendar has estrogen? So when I rub lavendar lotion into my hands, I'm doing something harmful. There are too many things out there to "be afraid", and they said to take the highly concentrated ones that really don't do any good out of my diet and leave those veggies alone! I cannot get my blog into my signature for some reason (still figuring out this forum but having a lot of fun and learning many things!) but if you are interested it is: StayingHealthyEvenWithCancer.blogspot.com. Really weigh the harm vs all the good those broccoli sprouts do for you! Wishing you well!

Re: Broccoli Sprouts -- Tanya
 

Some bits on sulforaphane: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...849#post226849

some of which suggests degradation of ER receptors.

Despite potential cancer stem cell benefit, got a little concerned about the possibility of enhancing her2 and halted the Jarrow Broccomax supplement (broccoli seed extract). Might be a great thing..just that clarifying studies haven't been funded. Crapshoot indeed.

In the broccoli link above, didn't see any references noted..at least not in a way you could easily find them.