People with a certain gene variation who eat a lot of broccoli for two weeks see a small but measurable drop in proteins that control inflammation signals in their blood.

Scientific Claim

In healthy young adults aged 20–40 with the GSTM1-null genotype, consumption of 14 g/kg body weight of cruciferous vegetables per day for 14 days reduces soluble TNF receptor I (sTNFRI) by 5.1% and soluble TNF receptor II (sTNFRII) by 6.0%, indicating a genotype-specific anti-inflammatory effect on TNF signaling.

Original Statement

“Geometric mean sTNFRI and II were significantly lower with the 2xC diet treatment [−5.1% (95% CI: −10.1%, −0.9%) and −6.0% (95% CI: −10.5%, −1.5%), respectively] among GSTM1-null individuals.”

From study:Cruciferous vegetables have variable effects on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in a randomized controlled trial in healthy young adults.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The RCT design with pre-specified genotype subgroups and statistical significance allows definitive causal language for this specific subgroup and biomarker.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Cruciferous vegetables have variable effects on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in a randomized controlled trial in healthy young adults.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

The study didn’t find that eating lots of broccoli lowered both sTNFRI and sTNFRII in people with a specific gene type — it only lowered one of them in a slightly different group, and not at all for the other marker.

Source Study

Cruciferous vegetables have variable effects on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in a randomized controlled trial in healthy young adults.

Score: 69

DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.197434

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People with a certain gene variation who eat a lot of broccoli for two weeks see lower levels of two inflammation markers in their blood.

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