Eating dark-green vegetables can change genes and stop tumour growth

Eating dark green vegetables can effectively change the genes of cancer patients and boost their body’s response to prevent tumour growth, a new study revealed. Scientists found that green vegetables have a compound called sulforaphane, which can fight cancer, including those already present in tumours.

The new study, published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics, found that sulforaphane in fresh vegetables also has the potential to boost the effects of existing anti-cancer drugs. Highest concentrations of sulforaphane can be found in young sprouts of broccoli, but it is also present in Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower and cabbage.

Besides fresh green vegetables, sulforaphane is also available in the dietary supplement broccoli sprout extract (BSE).

The findings come from the analysis of the cruciferous vegetable-eating habits of 28 adults, aged 50 and over, who were already undergoing routine colonoscopies. Researchers from the Texas A&M Health Science Centre found that the adults who took more dark green vegetables had higher levels of expression of a tumour suppressor gene, called p16, compared with those who ate few or no cruciferous vegetables.

Researchers were surprised that the effects of suloraphane to increase the levels of p16 persisted even though the participants didn’t eat vegetables every day. Earlier research showed that suloraphane lasts in the body for less than 24 hours after consumption.

"This hints at the possibility that epigenetic mechanisms are initially triggered by sulforaphane and its metabolites, and downstream mechanisms could be sustained, at least in the short-term, even after compounds are eliminated from the body," said researcher Praveen Rajendran.

In a previous study by the same team, sulforaphane has been found in laboratory tests to have the potential to block colon and prostate cancer cells. However, the findings require further studies in humans.

"Our work provides comprehensive proof-of-principle using cell-based, animal and human studies that dietary compounds like sulforaphane can be chemopreventive," Rajendran said. He noted, however, that it is not yet advisable for everyone to take a BSE supplement and that eating fresh vegetables still offers more benefits.

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