Sulforaphane is a compound believed to be responsible for many potential health benefits found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts. Sulforaphane is a type is isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, and brussels sprouts. Sulforaphane is produced immediately after an enzyme metabolizes glucoraphanin to sulforaphane once the plant is damaged or chewed. It can also be found in other vegetables such as turnips, arugula, and radishes. Broccoli sprouts can be purchased from food stores or as food grade seeds used for home sprouting. Broccoli sprouts appear to have numerous potential health benefits and are an inexpensive way to add nutrition to the diet. Research is currently being conducted in a variety of potential treatments for cardiac, cancer, and diabetes applications but this research is in early stages. The FDA has not approved the use of broccoli sprouts or sulforaphane for any specific treatment of disease and does not allow any statements made which claim that they can cure or prevent disease.
How to sprout broccoli seeds:
Food grade seeds may be sprouted in a 1 quart sterilized Mason jar and screen that has been sterilized by placing upside down in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Once the jar is cool, 4 tablespoons of seeds should be placed in the jar. The screen should allows water to freely flow out but the seeds to remain in the jar. The screen should be secured by the outside ring of the lid with the seeds open to air. Use fresh cold tap water to soak the seeds for 4 to 8 hours in a dark location, then drain. Rinse the seeds by filling the jar with the water and then drain twice in a row every 12 hours from start to finish. Other than the double rinse every 12 hours the jar should be kept inverted with open side downward inside a bowel at a 45 degree angle in the dark as seen above. You may need to test different bowls so the jar stays at that angle. When the sprouts are larger it takes 2 minutes to fully drain the jar. You can leave the jar in the bowl after draining most of the water but then remove the remaining water after the jar sits in the bowl after 2-5 minutes. It is OK if there is a layer of water up to 1/4 inch in the bottom of the bowl at all times but the seeds or sprouts should not stay sitting in water. A glass bowl is best to allow more indirect light to hit the sprouts. For the next 3 to 4 days, leave them 2 feet from a window in indirect light. Direct light will ruin them. Again, a glass bowel is best to allow indirect light to permeate to the seeds. If the jar is not rinsed for over 18 hours or if the seeds or sprouts are left in bright direct sunlight, the sprouts may die and grow bacteria. In this case, the entire jar should be discarded. If left in direct light, the sprouts will die, become malodorous and will turn gray in which case they should also be discarded. The sprouts can be eaten day 3 through day 6 since the seeds were placed in the jar. The best time to eat them is on day 5 or day 6. On day 5 or 6, after rinsing thoroughly, the sprouts should be teased out of the jar with a fork then placed in the fridge open to air for 24 hours then a lid should be placed over them loosely to allow some air exchange. The moisture should be allowed to dry out. A 2 inch layer of sprouts in a container inside the fridge is ideal to allow them to dry. They can be eaten over the course of a week. It is important to follow the procedure properly and make sure the seed supplier is providing food grade seeds, or the sprouts from non-food grade seeds for garden can make a person quite ill. There have been reports of the seeds being contaminated with E. coli from the supplier or by the person preparing the seeds. The sulforaphane in one sprout is equivalent to the entire amount in an entire broccoli plant, therefore the sprouts are quite strong in flavor and may cause mild indigestion at first for even small amounts, therefore increase the amount slowly as tolerated. Take small amounts at first, and mix with salad or other foods, and increase the amount slowly as desired.
Applications of broccoli sprouts in various health conditions:
Broccoli sprouts and lipid profile:
Broccoli sprouts powder reduced triglycerides, reduced oxidized LDL to LDL ratio and increased HDL in type 2 diabetics. The effects of broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) in type 2 diabetic patients was examined in 81 patients who were randomly assigned to receive 10 g/d of broccoli sprouts powder BSP (A, n = 27), 5 g/d BSP (B, n = 29) and placebo (C, n = 25) for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride concentration (TG), LDL-C (“bad” cholesterol), HDL-C (“good” cholesterol), and oxidized-LDL were measured. Cardiovascular risk factors of interest included the ratios of OX-LDL/LDL, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP; log TG/HDL), TC/HDL and LDL/HDL. After 4 weeks, BSP in dose of 10g/d, significantly decreased serum triglycerides, OX-LDL/LDL ratio and AIP (p<0.05 for treatment effect). Compared with group B and placebo, HDL-C concentration was significantly higher (p<0.01 for treatment) in group A. Findings indicated that BSP supplementation in individulas with type 2 diabetes is beneficial (lipid profiles and OX-LDL/LDL ratio improved). (1)
Broccoli sprouts and diabetes:
Broccoli sprouts powder resulted in a significant decrease in insulin concentration and reduction of a measure of insulin resistance in diabetic patients. The effects of of broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) containing high concentration of sulphoraphane (compound that exhibits anti-cancer, and antimicrobial properties) on insulin resistance (IR) in type 2 diabetic patients was examined in 81 patients who were randomly assigned to receive 10 g/d of broccoli sprouts powder BSP (n = 27), 5 g/d BSP (n = 29) and placebo (n = 25) for 4 weeks. Glucose and insulin concentration, glucose to insulin ratio and homoeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index were measured. After 4 weeks, consumption of 10 g/d BSP resulted in a significant decrease in insulin concentration and HOMA-IR. These results indicate that broccoli sprouts may improve IR in type 2 diabetic patients. (2)
Broccoli sprouts and Helicobacter pylori infection:
Helicobacter pylori infection which can cause gastritis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer may be effectively treated with broccoli sprouts: In a study by Galan, MV et al, nine patients with gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive 7g, 14g, or 28g of broccoli sprouts twice a day for 7 days. Researchers found that seven of nine patients became stool antigen negative after a week treatment with broccoli sprouts, and six of them remained negative at day 35. Of the five patients who provided information on symptoms, two reported improvement, one no change and one reported worsening. Consumption of oral broccoli sprouts was temporally associated with eradication of H. pylori infection in three of nine patients. The study did not state which dose of the sprouts were associated with the temporary eradication. They concluded that more studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of broccoli sprouts and to determine whether medicines that suppress stomach acid production or antibiotics might improve the effectiveness. (3)
Broccoli sprouts and ischemia:
Broccoli sprouts reduced blood markers of necrosis, cell death and oxidative stress caused by ischemia (starvation of oxygen from reduced blood supply) in rats. Akhlaghi et al. administered a regular (control) diet or a diet mixed with 2% dried broccoli sprouts to rats for 10 days. At the end of the study period, the hearts of the rats were subjected to a decrease in the blood supply to tissues (ischemia) for 20 min and reperfusion (return of blood supply) for 2 hours, and evaluated for cell death, oxidative damage, and Nrf2-regulated phase 2 enzyme activities. In rats fed broccoli sprouts , markers of necrosis (premature cell death) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) was decreased by 78-86%, and indices of oxidative stress decreased by 82-116%. The results indicate that a diet with broccoli sprouts can protect the heart against oxidative stress and cell death caused by ischemia-reperfusion. (4)
Broccoli sprouts and breast cancer:
Higher levels of isothiocyanates (ITC) in the urine such as those found in broccoli sprouts were associated with a greater reduction in the risk of breast cancer as part of a study on women. Researchers conducted a case controlled investigation of the relationship between brassica or Chinese cabbage consumption and breast cancer among women in Shanghai, China. Urine, collected in the morning, was analyzed for isothiocyanates (ITC), which are plant phytonutrients from cabbage that have been shown to fight disease and cancer. Results indicate that higher urinary ITC levels are associated with a greater reduction in the risk of breast cancer. (5)
Broccoli sprouts and bladder cancer:
In a study provided by AgResearch Limited, freeze dried aqueous extract of broccoli sprouts was given to rats after the bladder was exposed to nitrosamine (a cancer inducing substance). The broccoli sprouts were found to inhibit bladder cancer development. Adding broccoli sprouts to one\’s diet offers important protectants against oxidants and carcinogens. Enzymes contained in broccoli sprouts were rapidly delivered to the bladder after they were consumed through urinary excretion. Therefore, they may be a potential agent for bladder cancer prevention. (6)
Assessment and Plan: Broccoli Sprouts
- Broccoli sprouts are easy to produce in the home, and appear to have numerous potential health benefits. They provide an inexpensive way to add nutrition to the diet. Research is currently being conducted in a variety of potential treatments but is in early stages. Like most nutritional supplements, the FDA has not approved the use of broccoli sprouts or sulforaphane for any specific treatment of disease. Broccoli sprouts may be consumed for general health and wellness enhancement but they require more research for use in treatment of specific disease conditions.
- Cruciferous vegetables themselves have many potential health benefits but the research on broccoli sprouts is based upon the higher content of sulforaphane believed to be the compound responsible for health benefits.
- Broccoli sprouts powder may reduce triglycerides, reduce oxidized LDL to LDL ratio, increase HDL, may result in a significantly lower insulin concentration and reduced a measure of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics(1,2).
- Helicobacter pylori infection in the upper gastrointestinal tract which can cause gastritis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer was partially treated with broccoli sprouts in one study (3).
- Broccoli sprouts were associated with a greater reduction in the risk of breast cancer and may be a potential agent for bladder cancer prevention but more research is required. (5,6)
References:
1.Bahadoran Z, Mirmiran P, Hosseinpanah F, Rajab A, Asghari G, Azizi F. Broccoli sprouts powder could improve serum triglyceride and oxidized LDL/LDL-cholesterol ratio in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2012 Jun;96(3):348-54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325157
2.Bahadoran Z, Tohidi M, Nazeri P, Mehran M, Azizi F, Mirmiran P. Effect of broccoli sprouts on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2012 Nov;63(7):767-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22537070
3.Galan MV, Kishan AA, Silverman AL. Oral broccoli sprouts for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: a preliminary report. Dig Dis Sci. 2004 Aug;49(7-8):1088-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15387326
4.Akhlaghi M, Bandy B. Dietary broccoli sprouts protect against myocardial oxidative damage and cell death during ischemia-reperfusion. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2010 Sep;65(3):193-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20706790
5.Fowke JH, Chung FL, Jin F, Qi D, Cai Q, Conaway C, Cheng JR, Shu XO, Gao YT, Zheng W. Urinary isothiocyanate levels, brassica, and human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 2003 Jul 15;63(14):3980-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12873994
6.“Inhibition of urinary bladder carcinogenesis by broccoli sprouts.” AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Agricultural Research Center, Hamilton, New Zealand. Cancer Res. 2008 Mar 1;68(5):1593-600. Epub 2008 Feb 29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18310317