Broccoli 'may reverse diabetes damage'
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Are you a diabetic? Better start eating broccoli daily, for a new study has revealed that the vegetable could undo the damage caused by high blood sugar levels to heart blood vessels.
Previous studies have linked broccoli to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. Now, a team in Britain has found that sulforaphane, a compound present in broccoli, boosts the production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels and encourages a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.
According to researchers, people with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes -- both linked to damaged blood vessels.
"Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.
"In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will," the BBC News portal quoted lead researcher Prof Paul Thornalley as saying.
In their study, Prof Thornalley and colleagues at Warwick University tested the effects of sulforaphane on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), which are associated with diabetes.
They found a 73 per cent reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase nearly three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells.
The researchers also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes.
The results of the study have been published in the 'Diabetes' journal.
Previous studies have linked broccoli to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. Now, a team in Britain has found that sulforaphane, a compound present in broccoli, boosts the production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels and encourages a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.
According to researchers, people with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes -- both linked to damaged blood vessels.
"Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.
"In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will," the BBC News portal quoted lead researcher Prof Paul Thornalley as saying.
In their study, Prof Thornalley and colleagues at Warwick University tested the effects of sulforaphane on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), which are associated with diabetes.
They found a 73 per cent reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase nearly three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells.
The researchers also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes.
The results of the study have been published in the 'Diabetes' journal.
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