REDUCTION OF OXIDATIVE DNA-DAMAGE IN HUMANS BY BRUSSELS-SPROUTS

The effect of consumption of Brussels sprouts on levels of 8-oxo-7,8-d ihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in human urine was investigated in 10 healthy, male, non-smoking volunteers. Following a 3 week run-in pe riod, five volunteers continued on a diet free of cruciferous vegetabl es for a subsequent 3 week intervention period (control group), while the other five (sprouts group) consumed 300 g of cooked Brussels sprou ts per day, at the expense of 300 g of a glucosinolate-free vegetable. Levels of 8-oxodG in 24 h urine samples were measured by HPLC. In the control group there was no difference between the two periods in leve ls of 8-oxodG (P = 0.72). In contrast, in the sprouts group the levels of 8-oxodG were decreased by 28% during the intervention period (P = 0.039). The present findings support the results of epidemiologic stud ies that consumption of cruciferous vegetables may result in a decreas ed cancer risk.