Eating more broccoli could protect our joints
Eating broccoli could help prevent or slow the most common form of arthritis, according to new research.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia found that sulforaphane, which is found in broccoli as well as Brussel sprouts and cabbage, delays the destruction of cartilage in joints.
Arthritis affects 8.5 million adults with no cure or treatment other than pain relief or joint replacement.
In tests involving mice, those fed a diet rich in the compound sulforaphane suffered significantly less wear to their joints.
Ian Clark, professor of musculoskeletal biology at UEA, which is based in Norwich, said: "The results from this study are very promising.
“We have shown that this works in the three laboratory models we have tried, in cartilage cells, tissue and mice.
“We now want to show this works in humans. It would be very powerful if we could.
"As well as treating those who already have the condition, you need to be able to tell healthy people how to protect their joints into the future."
Ageing and obesity are the most common contributors to the painful and often debilitating condition and it is predicted the number of people seeking treatment will rise sharply by 2035.
Alan Silman, Arthritis Research UK’s medical director, said: "This is an interesting study with promising results as it suggests that a common vegetable, broccoli, might have health benefits for people with osteoarthritis and even possibly protect people from developing the disease in the first place.
"Until now research has failed to show that food or diet can play any part in reducing the progression of osteoarthritis, so if these findings can be replicated in humans, it would be quite 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."