New research suggests that a substance found in broccoli may prevent some damage that leads to serious lung disease.
US researchers found that sulforapane, commonly found in broccoli and brussel sprouts, increased the action of the NRF2 gene in human lungs, thus protecting cells from damage normally caused by toxins.
Sulforapane was also recently found to protect against blood vessel damage caused by diabetes.
The same types of vegetables have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
In a recent study, a group from John Hopkins School of Medicine found lower activity of the NRF2 gene in smokers with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which kills almost 30,000 UK residents a year.
The researchers say the gene turns of many mechanisms that remove pollutants and toxins that damage cells.
Researchers have known that broccoli naturally contains sulforapane, but studies have taken place in laboratories thus far. More research is needed before scientists can say if the gene has the same effect in humans.
Previous studies in mice showed that disturbing the NRF2 gene caused severe emphysema.
Researchers believe that increasing the activity of the NRF2 gene could lead to useful treatments for slowing or stopping COPD.
Their current study shows that sulforapane can restore levels of NRF2 in cells exposed to cigarette smoke.
“Future studies should target NRF2 as a novel strategy to increase antioxidant protection in the lungs and test its ability to improve lung function in people with COPD,” said Dr Shyam Biswal, who led the study.
“This is an important study for the 3 million people in the UK with COPD because of its findings about the imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants in the lungs,” said the spokeswoman for the British Lung Foundation.
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