The Bioavailability Of sulforaphane from Broccoli Soups study(BOBS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An intervention study to assess the bioavailability of sulforaphane delivered by glucoraphanin-enriched broccoli soups in healthy subjects
IRAS ID
157660
Contact name
Richard Mithen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Quadram Institute Bioscience
Research summary
There is a large body of evidence suggesting that the consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli is beneficial to our health and is associated with a reduced risk of different types of cancer.Cruciferous vegetables are able to deliver in our body a group of compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs) that are considered responsible of their health-promoting effects. The main glucosinolate found in broccoli is called glucoraphanin which breaks down to sulforaphane (SF).SF is one of the most studied ITCs and its anticancer properties have been extensively investigated in in vitro and in vivo models. Scientists at the John Innes Centre developed a super broccoli called Beneforte®. This broccoli has three times higher levels of glucoraphanin levels compared to standard broccoli. It was developed by conventional breeding methods through selection which means that they are not genetically modified. We propose to undertake a dietary intervention study on apparently healthy participants aged 18-65 years old to investigate how the different glucoraphanin levels in the study soup is absorbed, metabolised and excreted by our bodies. We will measure the SF and its metabolites in the plasma and urine samples from the participants. Participants that sucessfully pass the screening will be recruited to take part in this study where they will be randomly allocated to one of the three study soup. The study soups are: i)standard broccoli + stilton, ii)Beneforte® broccoli + stilton, iii) Beneforte Extra broccoli + stilton. The soups have different levels of glucoraphanin thus will deliver different levels of SF following consumption. This study will be a three phase, randomised,double-blinded crossover study so the participants will have one of the three soups in each phase. Each phase will be seperated by a minimum of two weeks for the washout period. During the study day,participants will be required to consume one portion (300g) of broccoli + stilton soup and blood and urine samples will be collected.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1121
Date of REC Opinion
18 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion