Overview

Brussels sprout is a leafy green vegetable that is commonly eaten as a food source or as a medicine.

Brussels sprout is taken by mouth for constipation and to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other conditions. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Brussels sprout contains chemicals that are thought to help prevent cancer. For breast cancer, eating Brussels sprout might change the way estrogen is used in the body, which might reduce the risk of breast cancer. Brussels sprout also has antioxidant activity.

Brussels sprout contains chemicals that are thought to help prevent cancer. For breast cancer, eating Brussels sprout might change the way estrogen is used in the body, which might reduce the risk of breast cancer. Brussels sprout also has antioxidant activity.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Some population research has found that eating large amounts of Brussels sprout is not linked with a reduced risk for BPH.
  • Bladder cancer. Some population research has found that people who eat large amounts of Brussels sprout and related vegetables have a lower risk of developing bladder cancer.
  • Breast cancer. Some population research has found that eating Brussels sprout and related vegetables is linked with a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. But other studies have found that eating Brussels sprout and related vegetables is not linked with a higher or lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women or women in general.
  • Diabetes. Some population research has found that women who eat Brussels sprout and related vegetables do not have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Lung cancer. Some population research has found that eating larger amounts of Brussels sprout and broccoli is linked with a lower risk of developing lung cancer.
  • Cancer that starts in white blood cells (non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Some population research has found that women, but not men, who eat larger amounts of Brussels sprout and related vegetables have a lower risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Pancreatic cancer. Some population research has found that people who eat larger amounts of Brussels sprout do not have a lower risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
  • Prostate cancer. Some population research has found that people who eat larger amounts of Brussels sprout and related vegetables have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.
  • Stroke. Some population research has found that eating larger amounts of Brussels sprout and related vegetables is linked with a lower risk of ischemic stroke.
  • A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency (scurvy).
  • Constipation.
  • Birth defects of the brain and spine (neural tube birth defects).
  • Heart disease.
  • Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
  • Wound healing.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Brussels sprout for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Brussels sprout is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in food amounts. But eating Brussels sprout might cause gas.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if Brussels sprout is safe or what the side effects might be when taken by mouth as a medicine.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Brussels sprout is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in food amounts. But eating Brussels sprout might cause gas.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if Brussels sprout is safe or what the side effects might be when taken by mouth as a medicine. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Brussels sprout is safe to use in medicinal amounts when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Eating Brussels sprout might cause gas. This could make symptoms of IBS worse.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) interacts with BRUSSELS SPROUT

    The body breaks down acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to a get rid of it. Brussels sprout might increase the breakdown of acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Taking Brussels sprout along with acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) might decrease the effectiveness of acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with BRUSSELS SPROUT

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.

    Brussels sprout might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Brussels sprout along with some medications that are changed by the liver can decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking Brussels sprout talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

    Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Glucuronidated Drugs) interacts with BRUSSELS SPROUT

    The liver helps the body break down and change some medications. The body breaks down some medications to get rid of them. Brussels sprout might increase how quickly the body breaks down some medications changed by the liver. Taking Brussels sprout along with these medications changed by the liver might decrease the effectiveness of some medications changed by the liver.

    Some of these medications changed by the liver include acetaminophen, atorvastatin (Lipitor), diazepam (Valium), digoxin, entacapone (Comtan), estrogen, irinotecan (Camptosar), lamotrigine (Lamictal), lorazepam (Ativan), lovastatin (Mevacor), meprobamate, morphine, oxazepam (Serax), and others.

  • Oxazepam (Serax) interacts with BRUSSELS SPROUT

    The body breaks down oxazepam (Serax) to get rid of it. Brussels sprout can increase how quickly the body gets rid of oxazepam (Serax). Taking Brussels sprout along with oxazepam (Serax) might decrease the effectiveness of oxazepam (Serax).

  • Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with BRUSSELS SPROUT

    Brussels sprout contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to help blood clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, Brussels sprout might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of Brussels sprout depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Brussels sprout. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.