Response of Cereal-Fed Guinea Pigs to Dietary Broccoli Supplementation and X-Irradiation

Abstract

Young, male, guinea pigs were fed a basal diet of bran and oats, with or without a daily supplement of 50 gm of raw broccoli, for two weeks before and after exposure to 400 r whole body x-radiation. Animals were killed sequentially for histologic and hematologic examination. Provision of broccoli resulted in improved nutriture, larger livers with higher stores of vitamin A and mimimal fatty changes, and superior gonadal development. Following irradiation in both groups, decrements in body weight and food intake as well as the characteristic events of the radiation syndrome were seen. Broccoli supplementation of the cereal diet generally reduced the degree of distortion or delayed its appearance.