Cruciferous Vegetables

Suggested

3 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Cruciferous Vegetables – Colorectal Cancer

Suggested3 studies

Regular cruciferous vegetable intake linked to 17% lower colorectal cancer risk

Three case-control studies spanning over 16,000 participants consistently associate cruciferous vegetable consumption with reduced colorectal cancer risk. In the largest study (2,390 cases, 11,492 controls across Italy and Switzerland), weekly cruciferous vegetable intake yielded an odds ratio of 0.83 (17% risk reduction) after multivariate adjustment. A Hong Kong study (822 cases, 926 controls) confirmed a dose-response relationship, with risk decreasing progressively across intake tertiles for both colon and rectal cancers. Mechanistic support comes from the Singapore Chinese Health Study (63,000 participants), where isothiocyanates — bioactive compounds abundant in broccoli, cabbage, and kale — modified colorectal cancer risk through gene-diet interactions (P = 0.01), with higher intake associated with a protective OR of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.36–0.86). These compounds inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Weekly or more frequent consumption of cruciferous vegetables represents a practical dietary strategy for colorectal cancer risk reduction.

Evidence

Cruciferous vegetables and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies

Authors: Bosetti, C., Filomeno, M., Franceschi, S., La Vecchia, C., Levi, F., Montella, M., Negri, E., Polesel, J., Riso, P., Talamini, R.

Published: August 2, 2017

Among 2390 colorectal cancer cases and 11492 hospital controls in a network of case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland, weekly cruciferous vegetable consumption compared with no or occasional consumption yielded a statistically significant multivariate odds ratio of 0.83, indicating a 17% lower risk of colorectal cancer. The large sample size of colorectal cases made this one of the most robust findings in the study. All cases were incident and histologically confirmed.

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The effect of the cyclin D1 (CCND1) A870G polymorphism on colorectal cancer risk is modified by glutathione-S-transferase polymorphisms and isothiocyanate intake in the Singapore Chinese Health Study

Authors: Berg, David Van Den, Ceschi, Michela, Koh, Woon-Puay, Probst-Hensch, Nicole M., Sun, Can-Lan, Yu, Mimi C.

Published: August 2, 2017

In a nested case-control study within the Singapore Chinese Health Study (63,000 participants; 300 CRC cases, 1,169 controls), low dietary isothiocyanate intake combined with a high-activity GST profile and CCND1 A-allele was associated with a twofold increase in colorectal cancer risk (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.10-3.82). Among subjects with higher ITC intake or other genetic profiles, the CCND1 A-allele was instead associated with a reduced risk (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.86). The gene-diet interaction was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Isothiocyanates, abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale, demonstrated cancer-protective properties through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis via pro-oxidant pathways in target cells.

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A case-control study on environmental and familial risk factors for colorectal cancer in Hong Kong: dietary determinants of colorectal cancer risk

Authors: Ho, JWC, Lam, TH, Yuen, ST

Published: January 1, 2006

In this case-control study of 822 cases and 926 controls, daily intake of all vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and fruit were each associated with reduced risk of both colon and rectal cancers on univariate analysis. For each food group, risk reduced progressively with increasing tertiles of daily intake. Crude fibre, a key component of vegetables, was identified as an independent protective nutrient against colon cancer on multivariate analysis, supporting the biological plausibility of the vegetable-cancer risk reduction association.

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