{"id":93911,"date":"2020-01-08T10:27:26","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T18:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=93911"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:21:25","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:21:25","slug":"sulforaphane-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/sulforaphane-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Sulforaphane? + Foods (Kale, Broccoli Sprouts)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why should you eat your greens? Sulforaphane, an active compound in broccoli and other Brassica <\/em>vegetables, may help prevent prostate cancer from recurring. Read on to learn about this beneficial compound and where to get it in your diet.<\/p>\n

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What are Sulforaphane and Broccoli Sprouts?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Sulforaphane<\/strong><\/a> (SFN)<\/strong> is an isothiocyanate, a sulfur-containing organic compound [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

It is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale<\/strong> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Sulforaphane is produced when glucoraphanin comes into contact with the enzyme myrosinase<\/strong>, contained within the same cells but in different compartments [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

For example, cutting, chewing, or otherwise disrupting the broccoli plant cells initiates the production of sulforaphane<\/strong>. Compared to the stable glucoraphanin, sulforaphane begins degrading soon after production [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Three-day-old sprouts of certain cruciferous vegetables contain 10 to 100 times higher concentrations of glucoraphanin than in mature plants [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Levels of glucoraphanin and sulforaphane are highest in broccoli sprouts<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Sulforaphane has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic properties<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Sulforaphane also protects against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Apart from sulforaphane, broccoli sprouts contain many other bioactive, health-promoting compounds, such as gallic, chlorogenic, ferulic, sinapinic, benzoic and salicylic acids, quercetin<\/a>, kaempferol, and vitamin C<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

To learn about the many potential benefits of sulforaphane and sulforaphane-rich vegetables, check out this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sulforaphane is a sulfur-containing compound which forms when glucoraphanin contacts an enzyme called myrosinase. It is most abundant in broccoli sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables.<\/div><\/div>\n

Cancer Research<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Prostate Cancer<\/h4>\n

Sulforaphane (in the form of broccoli sprout extract) boasts some relatively strong clinical evidence for a role in the prevention of prostate cancer and management strategies for preventing recurrence of prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

In multiple clinical studies, men with recurrent prostate cancer who took 60 mg of sulforaphane per day had less prostate specific antigen (PSA, a marker used to measure prostate cancer progression) than those who did not take sulforaphane [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

That being said, the FDA has not approved sulforaphane for the prevention of prostate cancer recurrence. Talk to your doctor before supplementing.<\/p>\n

Research in Other Cancers<\/h4>\n

While studies have advanced the furthest for sulforaphane in prostate cancer, it is also under investigation for possible action against other types of cancer. Sulforaphane is considered a promising compound for a few reasons; not least of these is that people who eat sulforaphane-rich Brassica<\/em> vegetables are significantly less likely to develop cancer [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Three to five servings of Brassicas<\/em> per week<\/strong> are associated with a 30% to 40%<\/strong> decline in the incidence of cancer compared to people who don\u2019t eat these vegetables [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Subjects who consumed at least one portion of cruciferous vegetables per week were less likely to develop oral cavity, pharynx, esophageal, colorectal, breast, and kidney cancers [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Researchers are also investigating the potential of sulforaphane against glioblastoma, thyroid, prostate, mammary, tongue, and lung cancer in animals [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Broccoli sprouts also significantly and dose-dependently inhibited bladder cancer development in rats, and UV<\/a>-radiation-induced skin cancer development in mice [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Possible Mechanisms<\/h4>\n