COPD is a progressive lung condition, a bane of smokers and former smokers. It is characterized by emphysema and chronic bronchitis, leading to obstruction in air flow to the lungs. A recent research shows that a substance found in broccoli may limit the damage which leads to serious lung disease.

The research was initiated by Dr. Shyam Biswal of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and colleagues. Based on their research, doctors have found a correlation between more severe COPD and a decrease in lung concentrations of a specific protein called NRF2. This protein defends the lungs against inflammation-related injury. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound that helps stabilize NRF2 levels in the lung.

Tissue samples from the lungs of smokers or former smoker with and without COPD were examined and analyzed by Biswal and his colleagues. It was found that COPD lung tissues had a decline in the activity and concentrations of NRF2-dependent inflammation defending antioxidants.

Sulforaphane was able to restore the antioxidant imbalance in COPD lung tissue.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, cited the doctors who said, “We know broccoli naturally contains important compounds but studies so far have taken place in the test tube and further research is needed to find if you can produce the same effect in humans.”

Previous studies conducted on mice indicated that disrupting the NRF2 gene caused early onset of severe emphysema, which is one of the conditions suffered by COPD patients.