About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Diet & Nutrition News

Eating Broccoli Helps to Combat Genetic Skin Disorder

December 03, 2007 at 5:41 PM Diet & Nutrition News

Eating broccoli is a very good idea for people suffering from a devastating genetic skin disorder, say researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, who found that a natural compound present in the green vegetable could help treat the disorder.

Related Links

The disorder in question is called epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), which results from mutations in the genes encoding keratin 5 or keratin 14. The mildest form of EBS leads to blistering of the hands and feet since these are most susceptible to frequent abrasion.

Researchers led by Pierre Coulombe found that the compound sulforaphane whose natural precursors are found at high levels in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables can help treat this disorder.

Sulforaphane has already been hailed for its chemopreventive powers against cancer.

Coulombe and colleagues turned to sulforaphane in their search for a chemical activator that would induce the production of missing keratins in basal epidermis.

There are 54 �conserved� keratin proteins in mammals -- meaning that evolution favoured their survival. Many of these keratins are closely related in their genetic sequences and their properties and by their distribution within epithelial tissues.

The researchers reasoned that such a situation breeds �functional redundancy,� meaning that the genetic loss of one keratin could be partially rescued by the overlapping functions of a keratin cousin.

Guided by prior evidence that partial redundancy was at work, the boffins used this as a basis for therapy in EBS.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

US Air National Guards Run Short of Doctors

Naps are More Effective in Keeping One Awake Than Coffee

More News on: Skin Disorder, Atopic Dermatitis, Hives, Pemphigus, Scleroderma, Behcet�s Syndrome, Pruritus, Vitiligo, Sleep Problems in Children, Genetics and Stem Cells

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54711
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

Induced Labor Does Not Reduce Infection Risk in Newborns

Stem Cell Trial for Hearing Loss

Physical Activity Ups Feelings of Excitement: Study

New Guidelines Recommend Metformin to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Gene Therapy for Blindness Works in Second Eye

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

Quiz on Skin
How much do you know about the human skin? Please take this quiz and find out.

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

Skin Disorder

Complete Medindia Resources

News Categories:


»	American Health Insurance Companies To Be Extinct by 2020

»	Online Plan �iProtect� Launched by Bharti AXA Life

»	IRDA Health Insurance Forum to Assist All Stakeholders

»	IRDA Proposes Health Insurance for HIV Infected People

»	Health Insurance Market in India to Show Robust Growth by 2016, Says BRICdata
More Insurance News

Diet & Nutrition Related News
»	Latest Weight Loss Tip	»	Diabetes Diagnosis Triggers Unhealthy Diet Promotion Charge on US Celebrity Chef
»	Decaffeinated Coffee Could Improve Memory Function	»	Role of Determination in Dieting
»	Avoid Indulging in Junk Food by Putting Off Temptation to Unspecified Time	»	Coffee Cuts Fibrosis Risk in People With Fatty Liver Disease
»	'Pink Slime' is No Longer Used in Burgers- McDonald's	»	The Bitter Truth About Sugar

Read More >>

Accident and Trauma Care Support Group	Acupuncture Support Group	Albinism / Hypopigmentation / Albinos Support Group
Alcohol abuse / Alcohol dependence / Alcoholism Support Group	Aromatherapy Support Group	Avian Influenza / Bird Flu Support Group
Ayurveda Support Group	Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Support Group	Birth Defects - Metabolic Defects Support Group

Eating Broccoli Helps to Combat Genetic Skin Disorder

Medwonders Health Network

Diet & Nutrition Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories