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Wait! Flashback to the time your mum yelled the same?

Now get ready to get reprimanded again! She is now backed by Science!

These greens, Broccoli in particular has chemical compounds or phytochemicals called Sulforaphane. The chemopreventive property of this Sulforaphane which principally is a Glucosinolate is being extensively studied. Previously, in another study based on the same glucosinolate of broccoli and broccoli sprouts, it was found that the compound was self-renewable and also capable of targeting cancer cells.
Now, a study carried out by researchers of Kanazawa University in collaboration with the researchers of Kagome Co., Ltd, the phytochemical has proven to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels in mice.

Researchers fed a group of experimental mice high fat food supplemented with Sulforaphane and fed high fat food sans the phytochemical to a control group.
They discovered astonishing results with the mice fed with Sulforaphane gaining weight at a rate 15% lower than that of the mice which were fed without Sulforaphane. Furthermore, reduced augmenta

tion of their hepatic steatosis and lower blood glucose level was also observed in these experimental mice.

Taking this project a step further, the researchers conducted a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which a total of 97 human volunteers participated. When a dose equivalent of around 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of broccoli daily – a fair few platefuls, was administered to their patients over the period of the trial, they witnessed a 10% glucose reduction across the sample.

“We saw a reduction of glucose of about 10 per cent, which is sufficient to reduce complications in the eyes, kidneys and blood” said Anders Rosengren, one of the researchers.
The Scientists believe that eventually this plant compound can be used to replace metformin, a drug that is currently used by people with diabetes to improve blood sugar regulation.
The two compounds take routes to the same destination as Sulforaphane suppresses the enzymes in the liver to help reduce the glucose production, whereas metformin makes cells which are more sensitive to insulin, take more glucose out of the bloodstream.
The drawback with metformin is that approximately up to 15% of the diabetic population cannot use it as it is associated with risks of kidney damage.

“More research is needed to see if this repurposed drug can be used to indeed treat diabetes, as it was only tested in a small number of people and only helped a subset of those who are taking it,” commented Elizabeth Robertson from Diabetes UK, who wasn’t part of the research.

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