Broccoli helps fight airway inflammation

March 11, 2009 In a study of 65 healthy volunteers, researchers found that a pill made from broccoli sprouts triggers an increase in inflammation-fighting enzymes in the upper airways.

The credit appears to go to a compound called sulforaphane, which is found naturally in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage.

Scientists say broccoli sprouts contain 20 to 50 times the concentration of sulforaphane that mature broccoli does.

The study is published in the journal Clinical Immunology.