Fruit Flavonoids Act Synergistically With Others; Metabolism And Health Benefits Depend On Gut Flora!

While I am a little leery about recommending soy for regular consumption. It has been found that the soy compound genistein provides more health benefits when consumed with sulforaphane, a chemical in broccoli. Another food that has high amounts of genistein is strawberries. So one might get the same synergistic effects from eating strawberries and broccoli together.

Interestingly, I did find this one article that mentioned that metabolism of genistein is dependent on the gut microflora. So getting your gut in shape for the proper metabolism of flavanoids is important.
The author writes, "It was proved that intestinal microflora plays an important role in the metabolism and  bioavailability of isoflavones. It is considered that about 50% of Asians and 25% of nonAsians host the intestinal bacteria that convert daidzein into the isoflavonoid equol. Variation in individual metabolism of phytoestrogens due to differences in gut microlora might influence the serum concentration of phytoestrogens. It was found that the capacity to produce equol is higher among Japanese and Korean men than among American men. After an intake of 50 mg isolavone, the urinary excretion was 42% for daidzein and 16% for genistein.  " (1)



1) New Insights Regarding the Potential Health Benefits of Isoflavones (23 August 2017) by Corina Danciu, Diana Antal, Florina Ardelean, et al.

Broccoli May Help Prevent "Leaky Gut" By Maintaining Good Intestinal Barrier Function!

"For the broccoli haters of the world, researchers may have more bad news: the vegetable may also help promote a healthy gut." Read more....

 Penn State. "Like it or not: Broccoli may be good for the gut." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 October 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171012151754.htm>.

Broccoli Compound May Be Therapeutic Against Depression Associated With Chronic Pain!

Depression is often found in patients that suffer from chronic pain. In fact, that percentage ranges from 30% to 50%. It has also been shown that the Nrf2 is decreased in patients that suffer from depression. Nrf2 is the "master regulator" of the antioxidant system which regulates over 200 genes. These genes include those for neutralizing oxidative stress, mitochondrial biogenesis and adipogenesis. In addition, it has been found that it plays an inhibitory role in inflammation.

The Nrf2 system can be activated by a number of food supplements and natural compounds. Past studies have demonstrated that sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli and cabbage, had beneficial effect on inflammation-induced depression. Also, it may reduce symptoms of allodynia and hyperalgesia which are two symptoms common in fibromyalgia and pain conditions. In a rat model of neuropathic pain (spinal nerve injury) in a new 2018 study, researchers demonstrated that the animals exhibited nociceptive damage and anhedonia-like phenotypes. They also found lower levels of Nrf2 in the spinal cord and livers of these animals. Treatment with sulforaphane before injury resulted in amelioration of anhedonia-like behaviors and reduced lower levels of Nrf2 in the brain and spinal cord in rats with anhedonia-like phenotypes. Treatment after injury demonstrated significantly higher levels of Nrf2 and a decrease in mechanical withdrawal threshold score. This was the first study to show that Nrf2 impacts anhedonia after neuropathic pain and that sulforaphane may be therapeutic in depression when associated with neuropathic pain. (1)






1. Role of Keap1-Nrf2 Signaling in Anhedonia Symptoms in a Rat Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Improvement With Sulforaphane. Frontiers in pharmacology, Vol. 9 (2018) by Shan Li, Chun Yang, Xi Fang, et al. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00887/full

Chemical in Broccoli May Help You Lose Weight!

We have posted that sulforaphane in broccoli may be beneficial in many environmental illnesses including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. In 2017, a study was published that increasing the expression of Nrf2 by adding broccoli and cabbage may also be beneficial for losing weight. The researchers for this study found two new physiological effects of sulforaphane that include "1) ameliorating obesity by browning of adipocytes to augment energy consumption and 2) improving 'obese' gut bacterial flora caused by high-fat diet and metabolic endotoxemia." Read the article...




Sulforaphane, a phytochemical in broccoli sprouts, ameliorates obesity. Kanazawa University. EurekAlert. March 7, 2017. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/ku-sap030517.php

Broccoli May Have Health Benefits in People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!

In past blogs, we have discussed the many benefits of eating broccoli which contains the isothiocyanate sulforaphane. Past discussions have focused on how it may reduce inflammation that leads to cancer and depression and be beneficial in the treatment of other diseases.  It has now been shown that it acts directly on the inflammasome NLRP3 by inhibiting the maturation of Il-1b. Interestingly, this discovery represents a new pathway for sulfurophane's action because in this case, its action is independent of Nrf2. (2)  

A recent study has demonstrated that in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome, fatigue was caused by activation of the inflammasome NLRP3. Inflammasomes are sensing protein complexes that are part of the immune response. that eventually produces Il-1 and Il-6. In the model, mice were exposed to an LPS challenge and a swim test. After the experiment, test mice showed an increase of both Il-1 and Il-6 in the brain and behaviorally, slower motor responses. The author wrote, "LPS-induced fatigue is an Il-1-dependent process and the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway is involved in the mechanism of LPS-induced fatigue behaviors. NLRP3/caspase-1 inhibition may be a promising therapy for fatigue treatment. " (1)


Related Posts: 
*Depression in Environmental Illness May Be Relieved by Eating Broccoli! 

What's Next:
* Nrf2 and inflammasomes.
1. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse fatigue and its relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of neuroinflammation, Vol. 13, No. 1. (05 April 2016) by Zi-Teng T. Zhang, Xiu-Ming M. Du, Xiu-Juan J. Ma, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/14620278

2. Sulforaphane inhibits multiple inflammasomes through an Nrf2-independent mechanism. Journal of leukocyte biology, Vol. 99, No. 1. (January 2016), pp. 189-199 by Allison J. Greaney, Nolan K. Maier, Stephen H. Leppla, Mahtab Moayeri. 

Depression in Environmental Illness May Be Relieved by Eating Broccoli!

"Depressive symptoms in environmental illnesses are more likely due to activation of TNF-a which presents as "sickness behavior". It would account for the fatigue and the depression. Because sulforaphane enhances expression of Nrf2, depressive symptoms may be relieved by prophylactic ingestion of broccoli. While some think that the depression is caused by activation of the corticosteroid system, I do not agree." If nothing else, it is worth the try!

 Prophylactic effects of sulforaphane on depression-like behavior and dendritic changes in mice after inflammation. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, Vol. 39 (January 2017), pp. 134-144 by Ji-Chun C. Zhang, Wei Yao, Chao Dong, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/14619968

A Component Found in Broccoli May Protect the Stomach from a Common Bacteria!

H. Pylori, a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tract, has been found to contribute to ulcers and stomach cancers. Common symptoms of general infection include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. In a recent study, a component in broccoli and broccoli sprouts called sulforaphane has been shown it can kill H. pylori when cells were exposed to it. This study shows that it may be possible for a diet high in broccoli to be preventative against infection and subsequent ulcers and cancer.

Sulforaphane inhibits extracellular, intracellular, and antibiotic-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and prevents benzo[a]pyrene-induced stomach tumors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 99, No. 11. (28 May 2002), pp. 7610-7615 by Jed W. Fahey, Xavier Haristoy, Patrick M. Dolan, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/14619248

Broccoli Extract Could Protect Against Cancer!

"Vegetables such as broccoli are mainly recognized as being healthful on account of their vitamins and fiber content. However, a new study suggests that broccoli sprout extract could also be protective against head and neck cancer."

Could broccoli hold the key to head and neck cancer prevention? Medical News Today. James McIntosh. April 20, 2015. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/292587.php

Eat Broccoli - Live Longer!

I say this all the time....

The world’s longest-lived rodents don’t eat broccoli, but they have the protection of a protein that, in humans, is activated by consumption of steamed broccoli, according to a new study from the Health Science Center.

Eat broccoli, live long! Healthcanal. Rochelle Buffenstein, Ph. D. March 31, 2015. http://www.healthcanal.com/life-style-fitness/61872-eat-broccoli-live-long.html

Antioxidant System Activators Resolve Intestinal Inflammation in Kidney Disease-Induced Colitis.

A recent study showed that kidney disease causes dysfunction in the intestinal tract by causing colitis. Upon application of a Nrf2 activator, resolution of the intestinal inflammation and restored epithelial tight junction proteins was found to occur. There are many Nrf2 activators that are in food, these foods include:


Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (contains phytonutrient sulphoraphane)

Coffee

Leafy greens such as kale, bok choy, cabbage

Red wine (contains resveratrol)

Tumeric/curcumin

Green and white eea

Chocolate

Blueberries and other red, black and purple berries.

Olive Oil

Garlic

Sage

Onions

Apples

Citrus fruits

Always, talk to a doctor about what you read and note, the information in this blog is not meant to be medical advice.




Role of Nrf2 Dysfunction in Uremia-Associated Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Barrier Disruption. Digestive diseases and sciences (16 November 2014) by Wei Ling L. Lau, Shu-Man M. Liu, Sogol Pahlevan, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13565842