Hormone menubar
Estrogens - The Female Hormones
I3C (becomes DIM)
DIM Supplementation for Anti-estrogen / Anti-cancer Benefits
DIM supplementation - Anti-Estrogen / Anti-Cancer "Tool"
As a
supplement, DIM is generally considered safer and more effective than I3C
I3C is a break-down product of cruciferous
vegetables.
DIM is a health-beneficial reaction product of I3C formed in the stomach and
intestines
The I3C reaction product DIM showing good results
with cancer
The original discoverer of
the importance of cruciferous indoles for breast health advocates DIM over I3C - Leon Bradlow, Ph.D. now supports and advocates
absorbable
DIM cannot be converted to undesireable ICZ in
vivo (see notes on ICZ above)DIM blocks dioxin
receptor. Dioxin is a well-known
carcinogen
Chen I, Safe S, Bjeldanes L. "Indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane as aryl
hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonists and antagonists in T47D human breast cancer
cells." Biochem Pharmacol. 1996 Apr 26;51(8):1069-76.
DIM is not
estrogenic or a
growth promoter of cancer cells. DIM exerts its control over cancer
growth without inducing unwanted enzymes and their production of highly
estrogenic16OHE1 from I3C"DIM is a more
effective inducer of apoptosis than I3C"
Chen DZ, Qi M, Auborn KJ, Carter TH,
"Indole-3-Carbinol and Diindolylmethane Induce Apoptosis of Human Cervical
Cancer Cells and in Murine HPV16-Transgenic Preneoplastic Cervical Epithelium."
J Nutr. 2001 Dec;131(12):3294-3302.
DIM controls growth in experimental breast cancer
Kang JS, Kim DJ, Ahn B, Nam KT, Kim KS, Choi M, Jang DD. "Post-initiation
treatment with Indole-3-carbinol did not suppress N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced
mammary carcinogenesis in rats." Cancer Lett. 2001 Aug 28;169(2):147-54.
Chen I, McDougal A, Wang F, Safe S"Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated
antiiestrogenic and antitumorigenic activity of diindolylmethane."
Carcinogenesis 1998 Sep;19(9):1631-9.
NOTE that Cell Culture
studies showing DIM as a contributor to breast cancer cell growth were done in
an artificial estrogen -free
environment never seen in vivo. In the article "DIM and I3C: The Real Facts on Safety" by Michael A. Zeligs, M.D.,
he writes:
" In the presence of estrogen , DIM is
consistently anti-proliferative and reduces the growth signal provided by
estrogen (2). This includes growth-inhibiting activity in both
estrogen receptor positive and negative
cancer cell types (3). The estrogen-independent activation pathway described by
Riby et al (1) involves the increased phosphorylation of
estrogen receptor proteins, and not the
direct interaction of DIM with the estrogen
receptor. This action may actually be of benefit in cancer control. Understood
in context, this receptor activation pathway contributes to the control of
abnormal cell growth in living animals through enhanced "programmed-cell-death"
(apoptosis) and a reduced tendency for the metastatic spread of cancer (4).
Unlike ICZ, LTR, CTR or ASG, DIM exerts
its control over cancer cell growth without activating the dioxin receptor or
inducing unwanted enzymes.Direct
control over cancer cell growth by DIM has now been shown in breast, uterine,
cervical, ovarian, and colon cancer cells.I3C has been noted to control
cancer cell growth in these cell types as well. However, in
cell culture
1. Riby JE, Chang GH, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF. "Ligand-independent activation
of estrogen receptor function by 3,3'-diindolylmethane in human breast cancer
cells." Biochem Pharmacol. 2000 Jul 15;60(2):167-77.
2. Chibo Hong, Gary L. Firestone, and Leonard F. Bjeldanes,
"3,3'Diindolylmethane (DIM), a dietary indole, has multiple cell suppressive
effects on MCF-7, human breast cancer cells." The American Society for Cell
Biology, Fortieth Annual Meeting, December 2000, San Francisco, California.
3. Chibo Hong, Gary L. Firestone and Leonard F. Bjeldanes. "Induction of
apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells by
3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM)." Experimental Biology 2001, March 31-April 4, 2001,
Orlando, Florida.
4. Platet N, Cunat S, Chalbos D, Rochefort H, Garcia M."Unliganded and liganded
estrogen receptors protect against cancer invasion via different mechanisms."
Mol Endocrinol. 2000 Jul;14(7):999-1009.
DIM balances hormones
and aids in the breakdown of
estrogen.
Choose a DIM supplement where the label indicates
that it has been formulated in such a way as to increase its absorption in the
body . The enhanced-absorption, micro-encapsulated
form patented by Bio-Response is probably
the best choice, available under various labels:
Nature's Way "DIM-plus" available at: Vitacost,
Swanson's
Dose range of DIM (not including the absorption-aid ingredients)
for hormonal
balance:
Women -
25 - 50 mg per day of DIM
Men -
50 - 100 mg /day of DIM .
1 ½ pounds of cruciferous vegetables
produces approx. 10-30 mg of DIM
Use of absorbable DIM has been shown effective in
amounts close to that obtainable from our diet (0.3 mg/kg/day of DIM)
Zeligs MA, Sepkovic DW, Manrique CA, Macksalka M, Williams DE, Bradlow HL,
"Absorption-enhanced 3,3-Diindolylmethane: human use in HPV-related, benign and
pre-cancerous conditions." American Association of Cancer Research, (42) 2002,
#103483.
Even very high Human
studies, often at 10 times the typical supplement dose of DIM which benefits
estrogen metabolism, have reported no side
effects, unlike I3C, where higher doses produce side effects such as dizziness
and unsteady gait
Rosen CA; Woodson GE; Thompson JW; Hengesteg AP; Bradlow HL, "Preliminary
results of the use of indole-3-carbinol for recurrent respiratory
papillomatosis,"Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998 Jun;118(6):810-5.
May interfere with the breakdown of some drugs in
the liver. This could lead to increased or decreased absorption of certain drugs,
as well as increased side effects. Ask your health care provider about possible
drug interactions with DIM if you take any prescription medication.
