Effect of Broccoli Sprout on Blood Levels of Sulforaphane to Reduce Responsiveness of Immune System

Does Broccoli Sprout Consumption Result in Plasma Sulforaphane Levels That Can Attenuate Leukocyte Activation Ex-vivo in Healthy Human Volunteers?

The investigators suggest that inducing anti-oxidant enzymes indirectly may be an effective means of providing vascular protection.

Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound found in green vegetables (including broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower) is able to protect against cell inflammatory stress by inducing a number of anti-oxidant molecules. Targeted studies on the consumption of broccoli and related vegetables have been shown to be associated with reduced risk of coronary artery disease.

In the present study the investigators want to test whether the consumption of a "broccoli smoothie" containing sulforaphane can protect white blood cells from becoming activated in the presence of an experimental stress and how long this protective effect lasts for. To do this, the investigators will be analysing inflammatory changes in blood samples taken at different times during the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Brocco-sprout homogenate; Dietary supplement: Alfalfa sprout homogenate

Detailed Description

Atherosclerosis is the disease process that leads to hardening of the arteries which causes them to become narrowed. This occurs because fat is first deposited on the inside walls of the arteries, then becomes hardened by fibrous tissue and calcium deposition forming a semi-hardened accumulation of material known as plaque. As this plaque grows, it narrows the channel within the artery and causes a reduction in blood and oxygen supply to the affected organ - such as the heart and brain. The investigators now understand that this process is caused by inflammation and activation of the immune cells over a period of time. It has been proposed that targeting these immune cells and reducing the levels of immune activation can protect against cardiovascular diseases.

Previously it has been observed that consumption of fruit and vegetables rich in anti-oxidants can confer a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. The use of anti-oxidants experimentally has shown protective benefits against activation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom, W12 0NN
    • Cardiovascular Medicine Research Unit, Hammersmith Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18+ years
• Able to commit for the two week duration of the trial

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years
• Pregnancy
• Vegetarian
• History of allergy
• Current smoker or smoking cessation within the last 3 months
• Current use of inhaled, topical or systemic corticosteroids or within the last 2 weeks
• Current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use or within the last 1 week
• Current use of nutritional or multivitamin supplements
• Current participation in any other Randomised controlled trial

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Brocco-sprout homogenate	Dietary supplement: Brocco-sprout homogenate; Participants will be asked to orally consume on three consecutive days a brocco-sprout homogenate (70g dry weight).
SHAM_COMPARATOR: Alfalfa sprout homogenate	Dietary supplement: Alfalfa sprout homogenate; Participants will be asked to orally consume on three consecutive days an alfalfa sprout homogenate.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Resistance of leucocytes to inflammatory activation following an experimental stress	Participants will consume a brocco-sprout homogenate. Blood will be sampled for intracellular markers of leukocyte stress after ex-vivo stimulus with Phorbol ester / Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha. The following parameters will be recorded.; Reactive oxygen species detection using aminophenylfluoresceine dye; p38 MAP kinase induction; NF-kB induction	24 hours after consumption of the third homogenate

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Imperial College London
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Paul C Evans, BSc MSc PhD, Imperial College London

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): January 1, 2014
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): January 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 19, 2011
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): May 20, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): July 8, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 4, 2019
• Last Verified: July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: broccoli; white blood cell; P38 Map Kinase
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2-bao

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Study Data/Documents

1. Clinical Study Report
   Information identifier: DOI:10.4172/2472-1921.100060
   Information comments: RESULTS REPORT

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No