New Study: Broccoli Could Delay, and Even Prevent Osteoarthritis

Sharon Moore August 29, 2013

Eating lots of broccoli may slow down and even prevent the onset of osteoarthritis, new research reveals.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting the hands, feet, spine, hips and knees. More than 8.5 million people in the UK are diagnosed with this debilitating condition. Following tests on cells and mice that showed a broccoli compound, called glucoraphanin, has blocked a key destructive enzyme that damages cartilage, researchers at the University of East Anglia are now starting a human trial in which 20 patients will be asked to eat "super-charged" broccoli every day for two weeks before they undergo knee surgery. Said compound, when absorbed by the body, is changed into sulforaphane, which appears to protect the joints.

Super-charged Broccoli

The broccoli which the participants will eat is bred to be extra rich in nutrients. It is a cross between the standard broccoli and a wild relative from Sicily. The study aimed to see if sulforaphane will go to where it is needed and create beneficial changes at cellular levels.

This special variety of broccoli, known as Beneforte, was publicly funded and developed at the UK’s Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre.

Researchers will be looking at the extracted tissues to see whether broccoli has any impact. "We’re asking patients to eat 100g (3.5oz) every day for two weeks. That’s a normal, good-sized serving - about a handful - and it’s an amount that most people should be happy to eat every day." said Dr Rose Davidson, the lead investigator. According to her, whilst two weeks may not be enough to cause any big change, it will be enough to provide evidence that broccoli could benefit humans.

"I can’t imagine it would repair or reverse arthritis... but it might be a way to prevent it," she said.

Another 20 patients with osteoarthritis who have not been on the broccoli diet will be examined after surgery as a comparison group.

Their work was published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Research Breakthrough

Prof Alan Silman of Arthritis Research UK said if these findings can be replicated in humans, it would be a breakthrough.

"We know that exercise and keeping to a healthy weight can improve people’s symptoms and reduce the chances of the disease progressing, but this adds another layer in our understanding of how diet could play its part."

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Broccoli slows arthritis, researchers think