If you have a health condition in which estrogen levels are a factor, you may benefit from dietary compounds known as "indoles" that regulate hormone function and provide antioxidant protection.  Cruciferous vegetables like kale, cabbage, and broccoli have long been associated with good health and longevity.  The protective and health-promoting activity of these foods has been investigated in recent years, providing evidence of the healing properties of these vegetables. 

The primary active ingredient that is present in vegetables in the Brassica family is called indole-3-carbinol, which breaks down into a number of compounds with anti-carcinogenic potential.   Indole-3-carbinol has been found to have anti-angiogenic qualities in studies, meaning it inhibits the ability of tumors to expand and build new blood vessels.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) breaks down into a number of metabolic compounds, the most extensively researched of which is diindolylmethane (DIM).  DIM in particular seems to affect how genes are expressed that regulate estrogen in the body.  DIM restricts changes in estrogen-triggered genes, and therefore shows particular promise in preventing and treating cancers where estrogen is a factor, such as cervical and ovarian cancers.  The estrogen-regulating properties of indoles encourages the production of 2-hydroxyestrone, a helpful and protective estrogen metabolite, in order to bring it into balance with 16-alpha hydroxy-estrone, a product of estrogen that may trigger undesirable cell changes.

Human beings today are exposed to more and more estrogen and estrogenic chemicals in the environment.  Menopausal women who undergo Hormone Replacement Therapy in particular are at risk for estrogen-dependent breast cancer.  Other risk factors include prolonged exposure to estrogen-like chemicals in the environment, such as BPA in hard plastics and BBP in plastic wraps and films and estrogenic foods, particularly soy.

Protect yourself with adequate dietary indole intake, from fresh, organic brassica vegetables, or by increasing your intake of these protective elements with supplementation.   DIM + I3C by Seeking Health contains both indole-3-carbinol and its metabolic product, diindolylmethane, as well as other indoles for complete, well-rounded immune system support and anti-estrogenic activity.

References:

1.    Mulvey L, Chandrasekaran A, Liu K, Lombardi S, Wang XP, Auborn KJ, Goodwin L.  “Interplay of genes regulated by estrogen and diindolylmethane in breast cancer cell lines,” Molecular Medicine vol. 13 (1-2): Jan/Feb 2007.

2.    Fan S, Meng Q, Saha T, Sarkar Fazlul, and Rosen, E.  “Low Concentrations of Diindolylmethane, a Metabolite of Indole-3-Carbinol, Protect against Oxidative Stress in a BRCA1-Dependent Manner,” Cancer Research vol. 69 (15): August 2009.

3.    Fernandez SV and Russo J.  “Estrogens and Xenoestrogens in Breast Cancer,” Toxic Pathology vol. 38 (1): Nov. 2009.

4.    Raj MH, Abd Elmageed ZY, Zhou J, Gaur RL, Nguyen L, Azam GA, Braley P, Rao PN, Fathi IM, Ouhtit A. “Synergistic action of dietary phyto-antioxidants on survival and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells,” Gynecologic Oncology vol. 110 (3): Sep. 2008.

5.    Ichite N, Chougule MB, Jackson T, Fulzele SV, Safe S, Singh M. “Enhancement of docetaxel anticancer activity by a novel diindolylmethane compound in human non-small cell lung cancer,” Clinical Cancer Research vol. 15 (2): Jan. 2009.

6.    Choi HJ, Lim do Y, 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 Gastroenterology vol. 9, May 2009.

7.    Kunimasa K, Kobayashi T, Sugiyama S, Kaji K, Ohta T.  “Indole-3-carbinol suppresses tumor-induced angiogenesis by inhibiting tube formation and inducing apoptosis,” Bioscience, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology vol. 72 (8): August 2008.

8.    N/A.  “Indole-3-carbinol Monograph,” Alternative Medicine Review vol. 10 (4): Dec. 2005.

9.    Riby JE, Xue L, Chatterji U, Bjeldanes EL, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF.  “Activation and potentiation of interferon-gamma signaling by 3,3'-diindolylmethane in MCF-7 breast cancer cells,” Molecular Pharmacology, vol. 69(2): Feb. 2006.

10.    Machijima Y, Ishikawa C, Sawada S, Okudaira T, Uchihara JN, Tanaka Y, Taira N, Mori N. “Anti-adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma effects of indole-3-carbinol,” Retrovirology vol. 6 (7): Jan. 2009.

Keep HealthE. Stay in touch:
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook

Disclaimer: All information relating to medical and health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only. The information provided is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician.