Broccoli ‘helps hearts of diabetics’

Eating broccoli can help to undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, a new study has suggested.

Researchers at the University of Warwick found that a compound in the vegetable called Sulforaphane can encourage the body to produce more enzymes to protect the vessels as well as reduce high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.

They tested the effects of Sulforaphane on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia).

A significant reduction of molecules in the body called reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed.

Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells. The results of the study showed that Sulforaphane reversed this increase in ROS by 73 per cent.

They also found Sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from oxidative stress by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. The study showed the presence of Sulforaphane in human microvascular cells doubled the activation of nrf2.

Professor Thornalley said: “Our study suggests that compounds such as Sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.”

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, cautioned that the results were from studies on human cells grown in different concentrations of glucose, “so we need to be aware that this is a long way from the real life situation”.