Broccoli and Cauliflower Reduce Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk

A diet rich in cruciferous vegetables, particularly broccoli and cauliflower, may be associated with a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer, a new study reports.*

Previous research has shown that this family of vegetables, which also includes cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts, protects against colon, breast, prostate, thyroid, cervical, and other cancers and slows disease progression.

In this study, Canadian researchers analyzed dietary questionnaires from 29,361 men participating in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, including 1,338 men with prostate cancer, of whom 520 had aggressive disease.

Evaluation of questionnaire responses after an average follow-up of 4.2 years revealed that a higher intake of broccoli and cauliflower had a particularly strong protective association against aggressive disease, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

Men who ate more than one serving of broccoli a week had a 45% lower risk of aggressive disease compared with those whose intake was less than once a month. Cauliflower had an even greater benefit, with a 52% risk reduction in men who consumed the vegetable more than once a week. The researchers also noted a possible benefit in cancer risk reduction from consuming spinach.

-Dayna Dye

* Kirsh VA, Peters U, Mayne ST, et al. Prospective study of fruit and vegetable intake and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007 Aug 1;99(15):1200-9.