- 06 August 2008

A compound found in broccoli may help to reverse the cellular damage caused by diabetes, scientists believe.

A team at the University of Warwick found that the compound sulforaphane encourages the body to produce enzymes that protect the blood vessels against the damage caused by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia).

It also helps to reduce the number of cell-damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can rise threefold as a result of uncontrolled blood glucose.

Professor Paul Thornalley, a researcher in the university's medical school, commented: 'Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.

'In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in 'brassica' vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will.'

According to the charity Diabetes UK, over 2.3 million people have diabetes in the UK, and more than half a million people with diabetes do not realise they have the condition.

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