Wearing broccoli may help reduce risk of skin cancer

A diet heavy in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli sprouts, has shown potential risk-reduction properties for colorectal, prostate and various other forms of cancer, a study has revealed.

The study by Dr. Sally Dickinson, a research assistant professor in the Pharmacology Department at the University of Arizona and a UA Cancer Center member, focused on how sulforaphane- a naturally occurring compound in broccoli with established chemopreventive properties- could possibly be used to help patients reduce their risk for skin cancer.

The researcher found that instead of eating broccoli to unlock the risk-reduction nutrients, patients should apply small doses of sulforaphane to their skin. Think of it as a broccoli-based sunscreen additive.

Dickinson said that they are searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use. Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.

The research showed that sulforaphane is a highly adaptable, highly effective agent when it comes to inhibiting cancer-causing pathways (such as the AP-1 protein), while activating chemoprotective genes (such as the Nrf2 gene).