ABSTRACT
Approximately 100 types of cruciferous vegetables, alias Brassicas, are used in human diets. Some of the common ones include cabbage, broccoli, and kale. This group of vegetables is important in traditional Asian diets and is likely to contribute to the low rate of certain cancers, e.g., endocrinerelated cancers, in Asian countries. Low consumption of these vegetables may be a factor in the increase in these cancers in
Asians after their diets become more Western. The importance of cruciferous vegetables in cancer prevention has been documented in Western countries as well. A study of postmenopausal women in Sweden — 2,832 case patients and 2,650 controls — found no correlation between a diet rich in many fruits and vegetables and breast cancer. However, in this same study, consumption of Brassicas was inversely associated with cancer risk.
