News & Reviews

A new study has found that broccoli can protect skin from damage caused by exposure to the sun.

John Hopkins University researchers tested sulforaphane, an extract from broccoli sprouts, on six healthy subjects. They found that topically applying sulforaphane reduced the degree of redness and inflammation, or erythema, caused by UV radiation exposure by an average of 37%. However, protection varied from 8% to 78%. UV rays are the primary cause of most skin cancers. Although broccoli isn’t a sunscreen, it may provide another defense against skin cancer without the dangers of commercial sunscreens.

The broccoli extract absorbs directly into skin cells, protecting cells from the inside out. Sunscreen, on the other hand, absorbs UV radiation preventing it from penetrating skin. For maximum benefits, sunscreen must be re-applied frequently. In contrast, sulforaphane was just as effective three days after it was applied to the skin.

Considerably more research is required before broccoli extract can be “bottled” for skin protection. Luckily the benefits of sulforaphane can be enjoyed by eating broccoli. No need to spread it all over your skin before you head off to the beach!

Reference: Talalay, P., Fahey, J., Healy, Z., Wehage, S., Benedict, A., Min, C., and Dinkova-Kostova, A. (2007) “Sulforaphane movilizes cellular defenses that protect skin against damage by UV radiation,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104.