Broccoli is notoriously healthy. Past research has suggested it can fight cancer and inflammation, but a new study suggests the dark green veggie could have another superpower.
A compound, called sulforaphane, could slow down the progression of the most common form of arthritis, a University of East Anglia press release reported. Broccoli is a great source of this osteoarthritis- fighting substance.
The team found mice that ingested this compound had less cartilage damage than others that did not take it.
Sulforaphane slows the decay of the cartilage found in joint. It is present in cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables, but broccoli is the super-source.
The researchers believe the compound is able to stop cartilage decay by blocking a molecule responsible for harmful inflammation.
The findings have led researchers to launch a small-scale trial to test out the effect of broccoli on osteoarthritis-related joint pain and reduced function. Research participants will include patients scheduled for knee-replacement surgery.
"The results from this study are very promising. We have shown that this works in the three laboratory models we have tried, in cartilage cells, tissue and mice. We now want to show this works in humans. It would be very powerful if we could," Ian Clark, professor of musculoskeletal biology at UEA and the lead researcher, said.
"As well as treating those who already have the condition, you need to be able to tell healthy people how to protect their joints into the future. There is currently no way in to the disease pharmaceutically and you cannot give healthy people drugs unnecessarily, so this is where diet could be a safe alternative," he said.
Osteoarthrits affects millions of people worldwide. Symptoms include: pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the joints; loss of flexibility; a "grating sensation, and even bone spurs, Mayo Clinic reported.
"Until now research has failed to show that food or diet can play any part in reducing the progression of osteoarthritis, so if these findings can be replicated in humans, it would be quite a breakthrough. We know that exercise and keeping to a healthy weight can improve people's symptoms and reduce the chances of the disease progressing, but this adds another layer in our understanding of how diet could play its part," Arthritis Research UK's medical director Prof Alan Silman, said, according to the press release.
