Dietary supplement could protect against Cryptosporidium infection (Broccoli or indole-3-carbinol)

Medical Xpress / The Francis Crick Institute / Cell Host & Microbe ^ | Dec. 4, 2023 | Maradana, M and Marzook, B. et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers have discovered that a common dietary supplement could protect against chronic Cryptosporidium infections which are particularly prevalent in children under two and in areas with poorer sanitation.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that is one of the leading causes of diarrhea-related deaths in children.

A previous study where human volunteers were exposed to Cryptosporidium showed that people with higher levels of indoles in their feces prior to exposure were resistant to infection. Indoles are molecules normally found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, and they are known to activate the AHR system, a receptor which regulates barriers in the gut, skin, and lung.

The researchers exposed mice to the Cryptosporidium parasite and observed that infection triggered an expansion of immune cells in the intestinal epithelium (the layer of cells that line the intestine).

When these CD8+ T cells were transferred to mice with weakened immune systems, the researchers saw that the mice were now able to fight off Cryptosporidium infection.

Mice that lack the AHR receptor, or healthy mice fed a diet specifically deficient in indoles, had a reduced population of intestinal CD8+ T cells. This meant the mice were less able to fight off the infection, and showed that CD8+ T cells are reliant on the AHR system to protect the intestine.

Finally, nursing mouse mothers were given indoles, which were then transferred to babies through milk. When exposed to Cryptosporidium, the young mice never became ill, showing that the AHR system may be able to protect against infections in newborns.

This is important for humans, as the majority of life-threatening Cryptosporidium infections occur within a child's first year of life.

"Our study proves that dietary molecules like indole-3-carbinol may protect young children from becoming ill in the first place if given to nursing mothers."

[ConservativeMind]

Indole-3-carbinol is available as a supplement, but is generally better to get from broccoli.

Some studies have shown issues with mice who took the supplement form, but the negative effect hasn’t been shown in a human study, yet.

[ConservativeMind]

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[dfwgator]

I ain’t afraid of cancer...I had broccoli for lunch. Broccoli kills cancer. A lot of people don’t know that, it’s not out yet. It’s true. You find out you got some cancer...(click) get yourself a bowl of broccoli. That’ll wipe it right out in a day or two.

Cauliflower too. Cauliflower kills the really big cancers. The ones you can see through clothing from across the street. Broccoli kills the little ones. The ones that are slowly eating your way from inside...while your goofy, half- educated doctor keeps telling you, “your doing fine Jim.” In fact bring your doctor a bowl of broccoli. He’s probably got cancer too.

-George Carlin

[DannyTN]

[Red Badger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruciferous_vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae (also called Cruciferae) with many genera, species, and cultivars being raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard plant and similar green leaf vegetables. The family takes its alternative name (Cruciferae, Neo-Latin for “cross-bearing”) from the shape of their flowers, whose four petals resemble a cross.

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