Cabbage, a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables, contains a variety of compounds that inhibit or prevent certain forms of cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Selenium- and sulfur-containing compounds in these vegetables help detoxify harmful chemicals and wastes. Consult your doctor about using cabbage juice to treat a medical condition.
Diindolylmethane
A compound called diindolylmethane, also known as DIM, which your stomach produces when you consume cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli, may protect against colon cancer, according to a study published in the May 2009 issue of the journal "BMC Gastroenterology." In the tissue culture study, human colon cancer cells were exposed to various concentration of DIM, and results showed reduced DNA synthesis and inhibition of cellular reproduction in cancer cells.
Butyrate
Diindolylmethane may prevent colon cancer by increasing the activity of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that is used as an energy source by cells that line the colon, according to researchers at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of North Dakota State University, Fargo. Butyrate also inhibits an enzyme associated with colon cancer. The tissue culture study demonstrated that DIM promoted apoptosis -- programmed cell death -- in cancer cells and inhibited survivin, an enzyme that prolongs the life of cancer cells. Researchers concluded that DIM combined with butyrate may be an effective strategy for colon cancer prevention. The study appeared in the June 2009 issue of the journal "Cancer Prevention Research."
Anti-Inflammatory
A study conducted at the Center for Efficacy Assessment and Development of Functional Foods and Drugs at Hallym University in Chuncheon, South Korea reported that diindolylmethane provides anti-inflammatory effects that may prevent colon cancer. In the study, laboratory animals with colitis, an inflammatory condition of the colon associated with higher risk of colon cancer, were treated with DIM and showed significant decrease in weight loss, and other symptoms of colitis. DIM also improved the structure of colon cells and reduced oxidative and inflammatory effects. Additionally, the number of colon tumors was dramatically reduced with DIM treatment. The study was published in the August 2009 issue of the journal "Inflammatory Bowel Disease."
Estrogen
Cabbage may prevent colon cancer by speeding up the breakdown of estrogen, which promotes both breast cancer and colon polyps that can lead to colon cancer, according to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, author of the book "Prescription for Dietary Wellness." Cabbage also stimulates your immune system and provides a source of dietary fiber that keeps your colon healthy. Making cabbage a regular part of your diet may reduce your colon cancer risk by as much as 60 percent, says Balch.
References
- "BMC Gastroenterology"; Induction of G1 and G2/M Cell Cycle Arrests by the Dietary Compound 3,3'-diindolylmethane in Ht-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells; H. Choi, et al.; May 2009
- "Cancer Prevention Research"; 3,3'-diindolylmethane Enhances the Efficacy of Butyrate in Colon Cancer Prevention Through Down-regulation of Survivin; N. Bhatnagar, et al.; June 2009
- "Inflammatory Bowel Diseases"; 3,3'-diindolylmethane Attenuates Colonic Inflammation and Tumorigenesis in Mice; Y. Kim, et al.; August 2009
- "Prescription for Dietary Wellness"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2003
- "Nutrition and Health: Web Resource Guide for Consumers, Healthcare Providers"; Eugene A. DeFelice; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dictionary of Cancer Terms
