Broccoli sprouts cut bladder cancer risk

BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A U.S. study of rats found concentrated extract of freeze dried broccoli sprouts cut development of bladder tumors by more than half.

Dr. Yuesheng Zhang of Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., said the finding reinforces human epidemiological studies that suggest eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli is associated with reduced risk for bladder cancer.

There is strong evidence that the protective action of cruciferous vegetables -- broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, Brussels sprouts -- derives at least in part from isothyiocyanates, or ITCs, a group of phytochemicals.

Zhang and colleagues tested the ability of the concentrate to prevent bladder tumors in five groups of rats given a substance to induce bladder cancer.

The study, published in the March issue of Cancer Research, found the group given the highest dose of extract had an average number of tumors per animal of 0.46 and the majority of tumors were very small in size.

"Epidemiologic studies have shown that dietary ITCs and cruciferous vegetable intake are inversely associated with bladder cancer risk in humans," Zhang said in a statement. "It is possible that ITC doses much lower than those given to the rats in this study may be adequate for bladder cancer prevention."