Health Care Professional Information
Scientific Name
3,3'-diindolylmethane
Common Name
DIM
Clinical Summary
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a metabolite of Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a compound found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. It is the most studied of all I3C metabolites and is thought to be superior to IC3 as a chemoprotective compound for breast cancer and prostate cancer (3). DIM demonstrated anti-proliferative effects in animal and cancer cell models through various mechanisms.
In contrast to I3C which has been used in over a dozen clinical trials, few studies have been published using DIM. In one study, daily supplementation with DIM led to changes in estrogen metabolism in post menopausal women with a history of early stage breast cancer (4); DIM supplementation, did not, however, have any effects in women with cervical cell abnormalities (13).
DIM's effects have not been confirmed in cancer patients. Further studies are warranted.
Food Sources
Vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage (1)
Purported Uses
- Cancer prevention
- Estrogen metabolism
- Detoxification
Mechanism of Action
Diindolylmethane (DIM), a metabolite of I3C, can induce apoptosis by modulating the expression of the Bax/Bcl-2. It demonstrated antiproliferative effects in animal and cancer cell models (1). It was also shown to inhibit invasion of normal tissue by cancer cells and to inhibit angiogenesis in cell culture models (5). Both DIM and I3C induce the activity of phase I and phase II enzymes involved in biotransformation and elimination of steroid hormones and carcinogens in vitro. Physiological concentrations of I3C and DIM induce cytochrome P450 enzymes in cancer cells in vitro. The increased CYP450 activity of these enzymes leads to increased metabolism of estrogen and degradation of estradiol needed for the growth of estrogen receptor-alpha positive cancer cells. DIM induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells (6)and enhances the effect of erlotinib (7). In colon cancer and prostate cancer cells, DIM inhibits CDK activities (8) (9) and induces apoptosis by down regulating survivin (10) (11). DIM supplementation alters estrogen urinary metabolite profiles in women (4). DIM has androgen antagonistic effect (14). It inhibits prostate cancer cells proliferation and induces apoptosis through Akt activation, NF-KB DNA binding, and androgen receptor phosphorylation (15).
Pharmacokinetics
Diindolylmethane is a metabolic byproduct of I3C resulting from gastric acid conversion. On average 10-20% of I3C is metabolized to DIM (1). Following oral administration of I3C in mice, both I3C and DIM were detectable at mmol/L concentrations in organs and blood. I3C was quickly absorbed and cleared from tissues and blood in one hour while DIM had a slightly later peak concentration and was more persistent (2). An absorption-enhanced form of DIM was absorbed in a linear dose-dependent manner up to 200mg and a serum level of 104ng/ml was achieved. Higher doses did not result in increased serum concentration (12).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Theoretically, DIM and I3C can induce cytochrome P450 1 enzyme and may reduce serum concentration of medications that it metabolizes.
Herb Lab Interactions
DIM supplementation has been shown to alter estrogen urinary metabolites in women (4).
Literature Summary and Critique
Dalessandri KM, Firestone GL, Fitch MD, Bradlow HL, Bjeldanes LF. Pilot study: effect of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2004;50(2):161-167.
In a prospective placebo-controlled pilot study 19 post-menopausal women with a history of early stage breast cancer were randomized to receive 108mg DIM or placebo for thirty days. Urinary metabolite analysis was conducted for 2-hydroxyestrone (2OHE-1), 16-alpha hydroxyestrone (16alpha=OHE-1), DIM, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 6beta-hydroxycortisol (6betaOHC) and cortisol. The treatment group demonstrated significant increases in levels of 2-OHE1 (P=0.020), DIM (P=0.045), and cortisol (P=0.039) and a non-significant increase in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio from 1.46 to2.14 (P=0.059). The results of this study demonstrate that DIM supplementation increases 2-hydroxylation of urinary estrogen metabolites. But whether this translates to reduced cancer risk has not been confirmed.
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References
- Minich DM, Bland JS. A review of the clinical efficacy and safety of cruciferous vegetable phytochemicals. Nutr Rev 2007;65(6 Pt 1):259-267.
- Howells LM, Moiseeva EP, Neal CP et al. Predicting the physiological relevance of in vitro cancer preventive activities of phytochemicals. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2007;28(9):1274-1304.
- Bradlow HL. Review. Indole-3-carbinol as a chemoprotective agent in breast and prostate cancer. In Vivo 2008;22(4):441-445.
- Dalessandri KM, Firestone GL, Fitch MD, Bradlow HL, Bjeldanes LF.Pilot study: effect of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Nutr Cancer 2004;50(2), 161-167.
- Higdon JV, Delage B, Williams DE, Dashwood RH. Cruciferous vegetables and human cancer risk: epidemiologic evidence and mechanistic basis. Pharmacol Res 2007;55(3):224-236.
- Azmi AS, Ahmad A, Banerjee S et al. Chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer: characterization of Par-4 and its modulation by 3,3' diindolylmethane (DIM). Pharm Res 2008;25(9):2117-2124.
- Ali S, Banerjee S, Ahmad A et al. Apoptosis-inducing effect of erlotinib is potentiated by 3,3'-diindolylmethane in vitro and in vivo using an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(6):1708-1719.
- Choi HJ, Lim DY, Park JH. Induction of G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrests by the dietary compound 3,3'-diindolylmethane in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. BMC Gastroenterol 2009;9(1):39.
- Chinnakannu K, Chen D, Li Y et al. Cell cycle-dependent effects of 3,3'-diindolylmethane on proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. J Cell Physiol 2009;219(1):94-99.
- Bhatnagar N, Li X, Chen Y et al. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane Enhances the Efficacy of Butyrate in Colon Cancer Prevention through Down-Regulation of Survivin.Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa) 2009;2(6):581-589.
- Rahman KM, Banerjee S, Ali S et al. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane enhances taxotere-induced apoptosis in hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells through survivin down-regulation. Cancer Res 2009;69(10):4468-4475.
- Reed GA, Sunega JM, Sullivan DK et al. Single-dose pharmacokinetics and tolerability of absorption-enhanced 3,3'-diindolylmethane in healthy subjects. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2619-2624.
- Castañon A, Tristram A, Mesher D, et al. Effect of diindolylmethane supplementation on low-grade cervical cytological abnormalities: double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. Br J Cancer. 2012 Jan 3;106(1):45-52.
- Le HT, Schaldach CM, Firestone GL, et al. Plant-derived 3,3'-Diindolylmethane is a strong androgen antagonist in human prostate cancer cells. J Biol Chem. 2003 Jun 6;278(23):21136-45.
- Bhuiyan MM, Li Y, Banerjee S, et al. Down-regulation of androgen receptor by 3,3'-diindolylmethane contributes to inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in both hormone-sensitive LNCaP and insensitive C4-2B prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res. 2006 Oct 15;66(20):10064-72.
Consumer Information
How It Works
Bottomline: Diindolylmethane (DIM) may have anticancer effects, but this has not been studied in humans.
Diindolylmethane is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. It showed anticancer effects in laboratory and animal studies. However, human studies are limited.
Purported Uses
- Cancer Prevention
Lab studies suggest anticancer activities. But evidence from human studies is lacking.
Research Evidence
In a prospective placebo-controlled study, 19 post-menopausal women with a history of early stage breast cancer were randomized to receive 108mg DIM or placebo for thirty days. Urinary metabolite analysis was conducted for 2-hydroxyestrone (2OHE-1), 16-alpha hydroxyestrone (16alpha=OHE-1), DIM, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 6beta-hydroxycortisol (6betaOHC) and cortisol. The treatment group demonstrated significant increases in levels of 2-OHE1, DIM, and cortisol and a non-significant increase in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio. These results demonstrate that DIM supplementation increases 2-hydroxylation of urinary estrogen metabolites.
Patient Warnings
Although DIM (and I3C) were shown to alter estrogen urinary metabolite profiles in women, their effects on breast cancer risk are unknown.
Side Effects
Rash, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting, headache and hot flashes have been reported.
Last updated: April 26, 2012
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