Vegetables boost cancer protection

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Experiments show that broccoli and other vegetables increase the level of proteins that fight cancer.
Previous research has suggested a link between certain vegetables and cancer prevention. Now a team at Georgetown University, in Washington DC, has uncovered a possible molecular mechanism for this connection. They have found that a molecule called indole-3-carbinol which occurs in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, and another called genistein, which is found in soy beans, have an impact of cancer cells.

The two chemicals both boost levels of DNA repair proteins. These stop damaged DNA from being passed onto new cells and may therefore block potential tumor growth. The repair proteins are linked to genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are known to play a role in hereditary cancers. Basically, people carrying mutated forms of BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more likely to develop breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. More research is needed to see how the link between indole-3-carbinol and genistein and cancer prevention plays out in everyday life. But these new findings do seem to underline the health benefit of a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Source
British Journal of Cancer 7th February 2006

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