British scientists have discovered the mechanism of antitumor activity of broccoli - cabbage, the use of which reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer. It turned out that the substances contained in it can activate "anti-cancer" genes and block genes that promote the development of a malignant tumor, according to the journal PLoS ONE.

A study conducted by experts from the British Institute of Food Research, led by Richard Mithen (Richard Mithen), involved 24 patients with precancerous changes in the prostate. Half of the men supplemented each week with their regular diet with 400 grams of broccoli, the rest - 400 grams of peas. Before the beginning of the study, and also after six months and a year, participants took prostate tissue biopsies and determined the expression of all genes that affect the risk of developing prostate cancer, according to the Internet publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35 Pannochka. Net It was found that men who consumed broccoli, there were about 400-500 favorable changes in the expression of genes that reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to scientists, these changes affected both the genes that promote the development of the tumor, and genes that prevent cancer. At the same time, the greatest positive effect of the use of broccoli was observed in men who carry the GSTM1 gene, which is found in 50% of the world's population, scientists said..

A new study explains the anti-cancer effect of broccoli, identified during recent survey studies, as well as in animal experiments.

At present, it is assumed that this feature of cabbage is associated with the sulforaphane included in its composition, as well as isothiocyanates contained in all cruciferous vegetables, scientists note..

Prostate cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases of men in developed countries. Annually around 680 thousand new cases are detected in the world and about 220 thousand deaths from prostate cancer are registered.

Medicinform. Net.