Broccoli Sprouts Fight Stomach Cancer Bug

Broccoli sprouts may help prevent stomach cancer caused by an infection of Helicobacter pylori, often called H. pylori.

A news release on the work said H. pylori infections are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and are a major cause of stomach cancer.

Sulforaphane, a phytochmeical found in three-day-old broccoli sprouts, has been known to fight cancer. But researchers said the test of 48 Japanese people with H. pylori showed that eating 70 grams of sprouts each day for two months can lower levels of the bacteria.

The release did not give specifics on how much of a decline in bacteria the food caused.

"Broccoli has recently entered the public awareness as a preventive dietary agent. This study supports the emerging evidence that broccoli sprouts may be able to prevent cancer in humans, not just in lab animals," said Jed Fahey of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

The study also looked at the effects of eating alfalfa sprouts. People in the study who ate alfalfa did not see a drop in bacteria levels.