A sulfur containing extract found in broccoli, sulforaphane, may protect against age-related macular degeneration (also known as AMD), which is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. A study appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (July 13, 2004; 101[28]:1-446-51) demonstrated the protective ability of sulforaphane. Human retinal cells were divided into two groups. One group was treated with sulforaphane for 24 hours, the other was not. The cells were then exposed to ultraviolet light. The cells of the retina are very vulnerable to ultraviolet light. The treated cells had a higher survival rate than the untreated cells. Larger doses of sulforaphane seemed to confer more protection than lower doses.