Cancer Cruciferous vegetables protect against lung cancer in smokers
By David Liu, Ph. D.
Nov 18, 2008 - 11:55:30 AM
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Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Broccoli and
other cruciferous vegetables may help protect against lung cancer in smokers,
according to a new study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s
Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention
Research.
Cruciferous vegetables have already been known to confer
a protective effect against a number of cancers.
But this is the first study to report the
benefits for smokers, according to lead author Li Tang, Ph.D., a post-doctoral
fellow at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
"Broccoli is not a therapeutic drug, but for smokers
who believe they cannot quit nor do anything about their risk, this is
something positive," Tang said. "People who quit smoking will
definitely benefit more from intake of cruciferous vegetables."
The researchers found that the protective effect from
cruciferous vegetables in smokers was a reduction of 20 t 55 percent in the
risk of lung cancer depending on the type of vegetable consumed and the
duration and intensity of smoking.
For current smokers, only consumption of raw cruciferous
vegetables was correlated with risk reduction of lung cancer.
General vegetables and fruits were not associated
with the risk.
The strongest risk reduction was found among patients
with squamous or small-cell carcinoma, which are more strongly linked with
heavy smoking.
"These findings are not strong enough to make a
public health recommendation yet," said Li. "However, strong
biological evidence supports this observation. These findings, along with
others, indicate cruciferous vegetables may play a more important role in
cancer prevention among people exposed to cigarette-smoking."
Cruciferous vegetables include kale, collard greens,
cabbage, Brussels sprout, broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, turnip,
radish and watercress, according to Wikipedia.
Quitting smoking is the best way to prevent lung cancer,
which is diagnosed in 215,020 men and women and kills 161,840 in 2008,
according to the National Cancer Institute.