Broccoli, a miracle food?
Broccoli, Miracle Food SGS™ (Sulforaphane Glucosinolate) Fact Sheet Powerful Indirect Antioxidant "Sprouts" in Young Broccoli
Overview Increasingly, scientists are examining the role specific natural plant compounds (phytochemicals) may play in increasing the body's natural defense system. In 1992, researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine identified sulforaphane, a compound that occurs naturally in broccoli. Johns Hopkins researchers believe that many phytochemicals, including sulforaphane, may help explain why diets rich in fruits and cruciferous vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of cancer. The basis for this belief is from laboratory research on animals; it is being confirmed in humans. Sulforaphane, in the form of its natural precursor – sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS™) – is also found in foods such as kale and cabbage. Johns Hopkins University researchers found that young broccoli sprouts, in particular, contained high concentrations of SGS. The scientists believe that SGS boosts the body's own antioxidant defense system, including Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, which promote long-lasting antioxidant activity in the body. Antioxidants Many people are familiar with common antioxidants such as vitamins C and E that neutralize free radicals before they can harm cells. These vitamins are now called direct antioxidants. SGS is an indirect antioxidant – it does not neutralize free radicals directly, but rather boosts Phase 2 enzymes that trigger ongoing and long-lasting antioxidant activity. Researchers believe that SGS may be even more effective than direct antioxidants in protecting cells against free radicals and electrophiles. Below is a comparison of direct versus indirect antioxidants and their function in the body:
| Indirect Antioxidant SGS™ | Direct Antioxidant Vitamins C & E | |
| How Does It Work? | Works as a catalyst and boosts Phase 2 enzymes that exert antioxidant activity; broad spectrum activity eliminates many types of free radicals, cycling over and over again; creates an "army" of antioxidants, ready to neutralize free radicals over a period of time | Neutralizes free radicals directly – usually one molecule of a direct antioxidant removes only one molecule of a free radical; hones directly in on one radical, one time, to prevent it from causing cell (DNA, fat, protein) damage |
| How Long Does It Last? | Is long-lasting, triggering an ongoing process that continues to be effective, even after it has left the body and may last for days | Is destroyed once it reacts with a radical and may only last for a few hours |
| Where in the Body Does It Act? | Widespread throughout all cells | Restricted to water (C); fat (E) |
| Against What Does It Protect? - Damage to DNA, Lipids - Reactive Oxygen - Electrophiles* | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes No |
| Does It Stimulate Other Natural Antioxidants? | Yes | No |
| Does It Deplete the Body's Antioxidant Resources? (i.e., relation to glutathione [GSH]*, the most abundant cellular antioxidant) | SGS raises and replenishes GSH | GSH supports antioxidant functioning of vitamins C and E |
| Can It Produce Free Radicals and Act as a Prooxidant? | Highly unlikely | Very possible |
Glossary: Electrophile – a molecule that has a positively charged center, so that it can react with electron-rich centers such as those that exist in DNA and cause damage. Many cancer-causing chemicals are electrophiles or converted to electrophiles. Glutathione (GSH) – a naturally occurring peptide, serving as a biological redox agent or a coenzyme, present in very high concentrations in cells. It is the principal protective natural antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative damage.
