A new study undertaken at the University of Warwick in the UK has found that broccoli consumption could have significant benefits to sufferers of diabetes.

Researchers have discovered the presence of the compound sulforaphane, which encourages the body to produce heart blood vessel-protecting enzymes and reduce the number of cell-damaging molecules.

The study saw the effects of sulforaphane tested on blood vessels damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia).

Past studies have shown that a diet rich in brassica vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other impairments such as kidney failure, something that people with diabetes are particularly at risk of.

'Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforophane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes,' said Professor Paul Thornalley, head of the study. '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.'

the study was funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, The Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnological and Biological Science Research Council.

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