Eating
certain foods together, such as chicken and broccoli or salmon
and watercress could help to fight cancer, say researchers.
Combining
two food components called sulforaphane and selenium make
them up to 13 times more powerful in attacking cancer together
than they are alone, they suggested.
The
discovery could mean it could be possible to design special
cancer-fighting foods or diets.
Sulforaphane,
a plant chemical which could be used to prevent and treat
cancer, is found at high concentrations in broccoli, sprouts,
cabbage, watercress and salad rocket.
"It
opens up new possibilities for functional foods, food
supplements or simply new guidelines for healthy eating."
Dr
Yongping Bao, IFR
Foods
rich in the essential mineral selenium include nuts, poultry,
fish, eggs, sunflower seeds and mushrooms.
Selenium
deficiency has been linked to the incidence of many types
of cancers, including prostate. But UK diets include half
the levels of the mineral as they did 20 years ago.
Scientists
from the Institute of Food Research (IFR) were looking at
genes that play an important role in the formation and development
of tumours and the spread of tumour cells.
When
combined, sulforaphane and selenium had a bigger impact on
the genes than they did alone.
The
IFR research has concentrated on cell cultures. Human trials
could begin next year.
Concentrations
Researchers
say it may be possible to develop special foods or issue new
guidelines for healthy eating.
Top
chefs may even be asked to develop cancer-fighting recipes
such as a chicken dish with sprouts, red cabbage and nuts
sprinkled on top.
Dr
Yongping Bao, senior researcher at the IFR, said: "As a result
of this research, we hope to begin a human cancer prevention
trial next year.
"It
opens up new possibilities for functional foods, food supplements
or simply new guidelines for healthy eating."
He
added: "High concentrations in the diet are normally required
to protect against cancer, but when these compounds act synergistically,
lower doses are needed to prevent cancer formation.
"This
is particularly good news as selenium and sulforaphane can
be toxic at high levels."
The
research is published in the journal Carcinogenesis.
Combining
two food components called sulforaphane and selenium make
them up to 13 times more powerful in attacking cancer together
than they are alone, they suggested.
