Joy Odimegwu Says Broccoli Research Could Offer a New Path for Menopause Therapy

University of Lagos researcher Joy Odimegwu says her work on broccoli could help inform new approaches to hormone-related health concerns, including menopause. The pharmacognosy academic told Vanguard that her research explores how compounds in food might affect biological patterns and hormone levels. Odimegwu said she became interested in broccoli after learning it had been used to help prevent certain gynecological cancers. She wanted to examine what the vegetable contained and whether Nigerian-grown broccoli had the same relevant properties. Drawing on her earlier training in botany, she obtained samples in Jos and Lagos for testing. In an animal study, her team used broccoli powder prepared to optimise sulforaphane and fed it to rabbits for 30 days while monitoring estrogen. Odimegwu said the results showed one type of estrogen remained stable in the treated animals, while levels in the control group varied. She presented the findings in Brazil, according to the interview. The researcher said her team is now preparing for clinical studies involving people. She also described hormone replacement therapy as a treatment that may not be suitable for everyone, pointing to cost and medical contraindications such as bleeding. Her comments present the broccoli-based work as an area under investigation, rather than a proven substitute for established treatment. Odimegwu said a small TETFUND grant helped her produce a preparation that she has been sharing with family and friends. She emphasised the need for consistency and time to assess its effects. A Gates Foundation grant, the article says, also supported her effort to train African researchers in women’s health.