Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that is abundant in specific compounds that have been shown to promote excellent protective benefits in the human body.

But,those who just don’t like eating broccoli or broccoli sprouts may enjoy the benefits of supplements made with sulforaphane and glucosinolates, the active health-promoting constituents found in viable amounts in broccoli and broccoli sprouts.

Sulforaphane has been shown in several studies to be protective against the adherence of Helicobacter pylori, a pathogenic bacterium that may cause ulcers. In addition, recent research reveals it plays a role in healthy inflammatory mediation.

In a study published in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (Sep 2009) researchers reported that sulforaphane may have the ability to activate the protective protein Nrf2 in arteries; the researchers found that Nrf2 is inactive in arterial regions that are susceptible to disease, and that exposure to sulforaphone showed reduced inflammation by activating Nrf2.

Broccoli, though, has other compounds that are attractive for human wellness:  glucosinolates. These are metabolized by the body into isothiocyanates, shown to be potent protectors against proliferation of rogue cells.   Broccoli and broccoli sprouts (baby broccoli) are a great source of glucosinates that induce phase 2 detoxification enzymes, which either promote the scavenging of highly reactive oxygen species or decrease their formation in the first place.  And also improve antioxidant status in the body.  What all this means is that consuming regular amounts of sulforaphane and glucosinolates can help keep your body’s cells healthy and functioning normally, while ensuring that abnormalities are able to be kept in check.

Please email at sales@cyvex.com for studies related to broccoli and its health benefits.

The expression to describe an abundance of something – “more than Carter has pills” — reflects a once very popular product called Carter’s Little Liver Pills, an early dietary supplement to promote liver health. Launched by Dr. Samuel Carter in 1868 to “positively cure … sick headache and torpid liver” this was the ancestor of the modern condition-specific supplements available today, but prior to FDA/FTC rules that prohibit a dietary supplement made with nature’s ingredients to make such outright health claims.

In the intervening years since 1868, the multivitamin became the dominant supplement, the must-have to start a healthy day. Also, prior to DSHEA in 1994, many dietary supplements were individualized – individual vitamins, minerals, herbs.

Since the successful advent of DSHEA, manufacturers with help from ingredient suppliers and formulators were able to start manufacturing multi-ingredient formulas that support the structure and function of a system or organ in the human body. These formulas did something amazing:  they made it easy for any consumer to shop for what was (and remains) most appropriate and desirable for him or her. These condition-specific formulas took away much of the intimidation factor.

In fact, the industry research publication, Nutrition Business Journal, has reported, “Supplement and ingredient firms remain committed to health condition-specific products, which accounted for 92% of U.S. supplement sales in 2007.”

In 2006, Packaged Facts concluded in its report, “Nutritional Supplements in the U.S.” that condition-specific supplements lead overall sales, because consumers tend to seek out those with labels clearly communicating intended benefit of use. In 2005, Packaged Facts reported that condition-specific products accounted for a large proportion of new product introductions which rose by 33 percent that year.

The communications and collaborations between nutritional ingredient manufacturers and their brand marketing partners have never been as strong, exciting and cutting-edge as it is today in launching new condition-specific supplements and refining older formulas based on new research evidence. Consumers are more excited than ever because they have adapted to using condition-specific supplements as a long-term tool or as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Armed with this knowledge, many ingredient suppliers continue to search through peer-reviewed journals to validate safety, efficacy and mechanism of action of their ingredients. As one example, D-Chiro-Inositol, which has been found to have a positive impact for ovarian health and to help support healthy blood sugar as well.

Given the sheer popularity of condition-specific supplement formulas on the market, the dietary supplement industry’s future is secured as a reliable means to nourish health, in a personalized and easy way.

A randomized study involving 25 women with PCOS (mean age 32.7 yr.; mean body mass index 34.8m²) showed that 4 g/day omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 8 weeks significantly decreased liver fat content, fasting lipids, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids particularly decreased hepatic fat in women with hepatic steatosis, defined as liver fat percentage greater than 5%.

These results are encouraging for very obese women with PCOS. Previous studies had shown that mild reduction in excess body weight (5-10%) positively affected the response of very obese women to supplementation of D-chiro-inositol .  Research had shown that very obese subjects simply excrete inositol, preventing therapeutic levels from being achieved in the blood and tissue. Therefore, supplementation of D-chiro-inositol in combination with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids will effectively increase chances of treating PCOS in very obese women improving their metabolic parameters and fertility.

References:

1. Cussons AJ, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation decreases liver fat content in Polycyctic Ovary Syndrome: A randomized controlled trial employing Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009; 94: 3842–3848.
2. Kiddy DS, et al. Improvement in endocrine and ovarian function during dietary treatment of obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Clin Endocrinol. 1992. 36: 105-111
3. Huber-Buchholz MM, DG Carey, RJ Norman. Restoration of reproductive potential by lifestyle modification in obese Polycyctic Ovary Syndrome: role of insulin sensitivity and luteinizing hormone. 1999; J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 84: 1470-1474
4. Moran L, RJ Norman. Understanding and managing disturbances in insulin metabolism and body weight in women with Polycyctic Ovary Syndrome. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2004; 18: 719-736

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The word antioxidant is not a fancy coined term. It perfectly expresses what this large class of compounds does: prevents harmful oxidation caused by free radicals, which are rogue molecules that can cumulatively cause cellular, organ and systemic damage.

Many believe that consuming antioxidant supplements in addition to the daily multivitamin-mineral complex is essential to health preservation for the long term. And, antioxidants are plentiful in a host of new beverages, breakfast foods, snacks and even in topical products to combat signs of aging. This is not merely a trend, but becoming commonplace on shelves and through internet shops.

Because antioxidants are literally comprised of hundreds of phytochemicals, each with its own specific exact mechanism of action, consumers can easily be overwhelmed by the science. However, consumers respond favorably to products whose labels blare “contains antioxidants!” Mintel’s Global New Products Database shows that in the U.S., product launches featuring antioxidants climbed steeply from 106 in 2006, to 131 in 2007 and 262 in 2008. A study appearing in Food Quality and Preference (2008, v 19, pp 525-538) showed that 63 percent of respondents (aged 35 to 44) rated antioxidants as ingredients in functional foods as the most important attribute.

Antioxidants counteract the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in tissue.  When free radicals produced in the body become overwhelming, this causes oxidative stress. Technically speaking, free radicals are active atoms with electron imbalances and are therefore charged. Known biological free radicals are: superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, transition metals such as iron and copper, nitric acid, and ozone. Some free radicals contain oxygen and these are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are tagged as the most biologically significant of the free radical family.

Free radicals are very unstable in the body because they have one or more unpaired electrons. This natural imbalance causes them to focus on either grabbing or donating electrons, causing disruption and damage of healthy cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are like marauders running amok in the body trying to steal what they want and foist off what they don’t.  One cannot live a free radical-free life; it’s just part of existence.

Antioxidants work to prevent the marauders from marauding in two basic ways: chain-breaking and preventing.

Chain-breaking is just that, the action of a free radical’s quest for electron equality creates new free radicals. Antioxidants halts the chain. Preventive antioxidants literally prevent oxidation by decreasing the rate of chain initiation by scavenging initiating free radicals. These also work to stabilize transition metal radicals like iron and copper.

Either way, once the antioxidant performs, it too becomes oxidized, so antioxidants need consistent replenishment. It’s easy to see why consuming antioxidant supplements every day is a wise idea.

You’ve seen this on labels and literature and in the trade and consumer media. For those who don’t quite cotton to high-tech science, we can help you get a clear grasp of how this score demonstrates the viability of the antioxidant when it’s in vivo (you).

ORAC was created by physician and chemist Dr. Guohua Cao to essentially quantify strength/viability of individual antioxidants all grouped together in a vast class. ORAC is an acronym for “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity” which is determined by test tube analysis that shows its strength in its ability to neutralize (eliminate) oxygen free radicals. The higher the score, the stronger its ability; it is usually expressed as “XXXX (number) micromoles TE per gram.” Keep in mind that oxygen radicals are biochemicals formed inside the body through the process of oxidation – look no further than how quickly the flesh of a cut apple turns brown – that’s oxidation. Another easy example is rust on metal.

Obviously, the higher the score, the more free-radical fighting ability the antioxidant has. Consuming the typical “five-a-day” of fruits and vegetables would give a total ORAC score of 1750 units and it will not harm to double or treble that unit each day. In fact, experts suggest that consuming about 5,000 units a day will have a significant positive impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant levels.

The ORAC system gives consumers an easy benchmark for selection and shows a scientific standardization. The nutritional products manufacturing industry continues to become more and more standardized, which translates into reliable quality for the consumer; ORAC is the antioxidant standard.