Broccoli a key weapon in the fight to stop liver cancer

Broccoli could explain why some people remain relatively healthy with fatty liver disease and why some develop cirrhosis or cancer, new research reveals.

Compounds in vegetables such as broccoli could help battle fatty liver disease. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

An epidemic of obesity and diabetes has caused a dramatic increase in the prevalence of fatty liver disease, causing researchers to wonder why only some patients develop an advanced form that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower could be the answer.

One in four Australians has fatty liver disease, with a third of those going on to develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which can lead to end-stage liver disease and require transplantation.

“It has been perplexing why the majority of patients with fatty liver disease don’t progress to more severe disease,” Monash University professor Tony Tiganis said.

During research into the drivers of the progression from fatty liver disease to NASH, he found changes in the levels of an enzyme. “This is a pathway that is there to protect cells in our body from stressors. In a subset of patients this pathway fails to protect itself,” he said.

Previous studies by Dr Tiganis and others have shown raising the level of the enzyme NOX4 in skeletal muscle or in the heart after exercise protects against damage, promotes muscle and cardiac function and prevents the metabolic decline associated with ageing.

“Compounds that bolster the activity of NOX4 … may counter not only the development of NASH but also improving skeletal and cardiac function,” he said. “Such compounds are found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli or cauliflower.”

However, he said these compounds must be taken pharmacologically as it is not possible to eat enough to actually get the benefit.