Broccoli And Arthritis: Scientific Perspective

Exercise and body weight reduction are primary methods of controlling the arthritis. But some recent reports indicate that diet modifications may play a positive role too. Specifically, researchers became interested in some components of broccoli which have shown promising results in the laboratory experiments.

This is not the first time broccoli attracts the attention of medical community. This humble vegetable has been praised for positive effects in people suffering from diseases and conditions as various as allergies, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Broccoli has firmly secured a place for itself in the must-have list of any health-conscious person. The plant is an important source of carotenoids, vitamins C, dietary fibers and a large number of phytochemicals. Broccoli seems to have the cholesterol-lowering, detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties. It possesses antimicrobial activity, and it is packed with various anti-oxidants that help to maintain the health of cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems.

The first key observation which suggests a possible role of broccoli in preventing arthritis came from the studies performed by a group of German scientists working at the University Hospital Aachen. They observed that sulforaphane (1-isothiocyanato-4-methylsulphinylbutane), a compound found in broccoli, had positive effect on preventing the arthritis in cultured human synoviocyte cells (cells lining the flexible synovial joints). It is currently believed that the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis involves unusual interaction between the cells of immune system and excessive production of signalling molecules involved in systemic inflammation in the cells of synovial joints. The researchers found that sulforaphane selectively induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in these inflamed synoviocytes but not in normal synoviocytes. Furthermore, sulforaphane also induced the activity of a specific protein called Nrf2 that guards cartilage from destruction during the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Study performed by scientists from the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul has reported a similar efficacy of sulforaphane in protection against inflammatory arthritis in mice. Their data suggested that sulforaphane inhibits excessive proliferation of synoviocytes, fibroblast, as well as inflammatory responses in these cells. A more recent collaborative study  performed by researchers from several British universities  further advocates the role of sulforaphane on signaling pathways in chondrocytes  (cells found in healthy cartilage) and blockade of  cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis. Sulforaphane block the expression of the key enzymes (metalloproteinases) that causes inflammation in the joint. This protects cartilage from destruction and inflammatory responses during arthritis. Metalloproteinases are proteins that can degrade components of the extracellular matrix (i.e. cartilage, tendon, and bone) that comprise synovial joints. Furthermore, the studies on mice with osteoarthritis suggested that sulforaphane-rich diet significantly lowers the level of cartilage damage (decreases the arthritis score) compared to normal diet.

Collectively, these studies shown selective activity of sulforaphane against cartilage damage and inflammatory responses and advocate its therapeutic role against joint destruction and inflammation in arthritis. 

Diet modification might help in fighting the arthritis

Sulforaphane has already been shown to exhibit anticancer and antimicrobial properties in several documented experimental models. 

These vegetables are particularly enriched in glucoraphanin, which as a metabolic precursor of sulforaphane and can be converted into it in the body. In humans, the compound is already proven to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties but its effect on the joint health is not yet convincingly demonstrated.

Read More: Controlling and Managing Arthritis

The possibility to control arthritis through the diet would open a new avenue for a better management of this chronic condition. Researchers are now trying to conduct a small scale clinical trial on the patients who plan to receive the joint replacement surgery. In this clinical trial, the patients will be fed on sulforaphane-rich diet for two weeks before the surgery to access the effect of sulforaphane diet on damaged joint tissues. A type of broccoli particularly reach on sulphoraphane will be used in this trial. The results will be compared with tissue samples of patients who received the same surgical treatment but were fed on normal diet.

It remains to be seen if this trial will deliver the anticipated positive result. But regardless of its outcome, each of us should consider including broccoli into the diet. Its multiple benefits to the health are already proven beyond doubts.