Micronutrients and Supplements Info: Isothiocyanates

Isothiocyanates

Description

Isothiocyanates are a group of phytochemicals mainly found in cruciferous vegetables. The group contains different molecules that have various anticancer properties. Among them, benzylisothiocyanate phenylethylisothiocyanate, and 3-phenylpropylisothiocyanate appear to have the most potent anticancer properties.

Function

According to recent research, isothiocyanates appear to be responsible for the lowered risk of cancer associated with consumption of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. They seem to have neutralizing properties on carcinogenic substances.

Sources

Isothiocyanates are found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards green, kale, watercress etc. They can also be provided as dietary supplements that contain extract of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables.

Toxicity

None reported. The effects of supplements containing isothiocyanates during pregnancy and lactation are not known.

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Additional Sources of Information:

Isothiocyanates - Linus Pauling Institute

Isothiocyanates - Wikipedia

Scientific References

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Direct evidence that sulfhydryl groups of Keap1 are the sensors regulating induction of phase 2 enzymes that protect against carcinogens and oxidants. Dinkova-Kostova AT, Holtzclaw WD, Cole RN, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(18):11908-11913.

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Hydrolysis of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates after ingestion of raw or microwaved cabbage by human volunteers. Rouzaud G, Young SA, Duncan AJ. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004;13(1):125-131.

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Interplay between dietary inducers of GST and the GSTM-1 genotype in colon cancer. Slattery ML, Kampman E, Samowitz W, Caan BJ, Potter JD. Int J Cancer. 2000;87(5):728-733.

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Sulforaphane inhibits extracellular, intracellular, and antibiotic-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and prevents benzo[a]pyrene-induced stomach tumors. Fahey JW, Haristoy X, Dolan PM, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(11):7610-7615.

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Urinary excretion of total isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables shows high dose-response relationship and may be a useful biomarker for isothiocyanate exposure. Kristensen M, Krogholm KS, Frederiksen H, Bugel SH, Rasmussen SE. Eur J Nutr. 2007;46(7):377-382.

Urinary isothiocyanate excretion, brassica consumption, and gene polymorphisms among women living in Shanghai, China. Fowke JH, Shu XO, Dai Q, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003;12(12):1536-1539.

Urinary total isothiocyanate (ITC) in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older Chinese in Singapore: relationship with dietary total ITC and glutathione S-transferase M1/T1/P1 genotypes. Seow A, Shi CY, Chung FL, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998;7(9):775-781.

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Vegetable-derived isothiocyanates: anti-proliferative activity and mechanism of action. Zhang Y, Yao S, Li J. Proc Nutr Soc. 2006;65(1):68-75.