Cancer-protective properties of high-selenium broccoli

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Cancer Prevention
• Chemoprevention

Background:

• Selenium (Se) is known for cancer-protective properties, with high-Se garlic reducing mammary tumors and high-Se broccoli reducing colon cancer.
• The efficacy of high-Se broccoli against mammary cancer and the anticarcinogenic activity of broccoli sprouts remain uninvestigated.
• Secondary plant compounds in broccoli sprouts are recognized for potential cancer risk reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the chemopreventive effects of high-selenium (Se) broccoli and high-Se broccoli sprouts against chemically induced mammary and colon cancer.
• To determine if high-Se broccoli offers protection against mammary cancer, an area not previously studied.
• To evaluate the anticarcinogenic potential of broccoli sprouts, particularly their high-Se varieties.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted using Sprague-Dawley and Fisher F-344 rats.
• Rats were fed diets supplemented with high-Se broccoli, high-Se broccoli sprouts, or selenite at varying Se concentrations.
• Tumor incidence (mammary) and aberrant colon crypts (colon) were quantified to assess cancer protection.

Main Results:

• Rats fed high-Se broccoli demonstrated significantly fewer chemically induced mammary tumors compared to controls.
• Feeding with high-Se broccoli florets or sprouts led to significantly fewer aberrant colon crypts.
• These protective effects were observed when compared to diets supplemented with selenite or low-Se broccoli.

Conclusions:

• The cancer-protective effect of selenium (Se) present in high-Se broccoli extends to protection against mammary cancer.
• High-Se broccoli sprouts exhibit significant chemopreventive activity against colon cancer.
• These findings highlight the potential of high-Se broccoli and its sprouts as dietary strategies for cancer prevention.