Broccoli compound blocks a drug-metabolizing switch
The Dietary Isothiocyanate Sulforaphane Is an Antagonist of the Human Steroid and Xenobiotic Nuclear Receptor
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane sticks to a protein in the liver that normally turns on drug-cleaning enzymes, and stops it from working.
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Max 72Case-Control Studies
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Evidence Score
Researchers compare people who have a condition (cases) with similar people who do not (controls), looking back in time for differences in exposure. Useful but more prone to bias.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
A chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane sticks to a protein in the liver that normally turns on drug-cleaning enzymes, and stops it from working.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 520 / 58
Evidence Score
Researchers compare people who have a condition (cases) with similar people who do not (controls), looking back in time for differences in exposure. Useful but more prone to bias.
Publication
Authors
Zhou C, Poulton EJ, Grün F, Bammler TK, Blumberg B, Thummel KE, Eaton DL
Related Content
Claims (4)
Cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane, and sulforaphane triggers the activation of cellular pathways that defend against oxidative stress.
Sulforaphane, a compound in broccoli, attaches to a specific receptor in human liver cells and reduces the activation of an enzyme that breaks down drugs and toxins.
Sulforaphane decreases the levels and function of the liver enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 by blocking the receptor that activates this enzyme when the body encounters foreign substances.
Sulforaphane is a compound found in nature that directly blocks the human SXR/hPXR receptor, which controls the production of enzymes that break down drugs and toxins.