More than 300 scientific studies point to an antioxidant found in broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), as a factor in preventing multiple diseases, including several types of cancer, high blood pressure, macular degeneration and stomach ulcers. Now a new study shows the naturally occurring antioxidant SGS may help reduce cholesterol levels in a matter of days.
A pilot study, from the
More than 300 scientific studies point to an antioxidant found in broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), as a factor in preventing multiple diseases, including several types of cancer, high blood pressure, macular degeneration and stomach ulcers. Now a new study shows the naturally occurring antioxidant SGS may help reduce cholesterol levels in a matter of days.
and
cardiovascular disease, revealed that individuals who ate 3 1/2 ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for just one week reduced their overall
cholesterol level and increased their levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol. The consumption of broccoli sprouts, containing SGS, also reduced the amount of
oxidative stress or cell destruction caused by free radicals .
"This study is significant because it underscores the powerful preventive role that we think sulforaphane plays in assisting the body to help fend off a variety of diseases," said Dr. Jed Fahey, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "There are human studies underway across the globe that are examining the diverse disease fighting potential of this compound."
Dr. Fahey discussed several groundbreaking studies on SGS during his presentation at the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim, California on March 19th.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, led by Paul Talalay, M.D., were the first to discover in 1992 that broccoli is a rich source of sulforaphane and its precursor glucosinolate (SGS). They soon realized that broccoli sprouts -- 3-day-old broccoli plants -- provide 20 times the concentration of SGS found in adult broccoli. Since then, more than 300 scientific studies have been published in this field.
"The body of knowledge about the protective effects of SGS is growing at a tremendous rate," added Fahey. "Within the past year alone, there have been breakthroughs regarding the impact of SGS on cardiovascular disease, eye health, and the prevention or spread of cancer."