July 2, 2008

experts comment on research in PLoS One on the benefits of broccoli for prostate cancer

The study suggests that men who are at risk of developing prostate cancer had their chances of doing so reduced by eating 400g of broccoli per week.

Dr Chris Parker, from The Institute of Cancer Research’s Everyman Centre, said:

“A range of dietary factors, including intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, have been implicated in prostate cancer progression. The current study is one of the first to examine the effect of a dietary intervention on gene expression in the human prostate. The same approach could be applied to other dietary interventions, and might lead to a better understanding of how diet influences prostate cancer risk.

“In the longer term, studies such as this could point the way towards specific diets that could be tested to see whether they might prevent prostate cancer progression.”

Prof Karol Sikora, Medical Director of CancerPartnersUK , said:

“We have known for some years that eating fresh fruit and vegetables reduces cancer risk. This study shows for the first time in a randomized clinical trial setting that eating a broccoli enriched diet changes the pattern of expression of genes in the prostate gland associated with the subsequent development of cancer. This was a well planned and executed study representing a collaboration between several well known British investigators and an Italian group. Although the observation period was too short and the numbers too small to show that the incidence of cancer actually fell, it is the first clear demonstration that broccoli and presumably other cruciferous vegetables may well reduce cancer risk.”