DIM Complex (Diindolylmethane Supplement) Review & Benefits

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A number of supplement manufacturers produce a DIM Complex as a part of their product line.

These supplements may contain a number of different ingredients that will vary according to manufacturer, but the central ingredient will be diindilymethane (DIM).

DIM is a derivative of indole-3-carbinol, a constituent of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

Indole-3-carbinol is not bioactive, but when it comes into contact with the acids in the stomach, it is metabolized to DIM and indolylcarbazole, which are both bioactive molecules.

DIM Complex supplements often contain additional ingredients, including soybean phospholipids, vitamin E, black pepper, silica, starch and more. Pure DIM supplements are also commercially available.

One popular brand of supplements is the Nova Nutritions DIM Complex 100mg which also contains Vitamin E, Phosphatidyl Choline and Black Pepper Extract.

According to the manufacturers, “DIM promotes conversion of estrogen to healthy metabolites, leading to a better balance of natural estrogens in your body. DIM can help ease menopause symptoms, minimize the effects of estrogen on your weight, and support overall breast and reproductive health.”

DIM

Hormone Supplement

Estrogen

Testo- sterone

Body- building

How It Works:

• Aids healthy hormone balance for men & women
• Mitigates some effects of excess estrogen
• Anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory benefits

Dosage:

Between 100 - 600 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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What Is Diindolylmethane (DIM)?

Diindolylmethane is a compound named after its molecular structure: It is a methane group attached to two indoles. As such, it is sometimes written as di-indole methane.

DIM is produced when a digestive enzyme called myronase acts on indole-3-carbinol (I3C). I3C is a phytonutrient (plant chemical) that is found in cruciferous vegetables.

Cruciferous vegetables include kale, broccoli, mustard, turnips, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, watercress and various others.

Diindolylmethane has been observed to exhibit a number of properties in animal and laboratory experiments, including anti-cancer, chemopreventive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and hormone-modulating effects.

The National Institutes of Health has funded pilot studies on the use of I3C for cancer prevention. [1] Less research has been completed on the use of DIM as an independent supplement or in complexes with other ingredients.

DIM Complex Supplements

More research is needed to assign any particular benefits to DIM supplementation. However, DIM users often report positive results with DIM supplementation, especially related to estrogen metabolism.

DIM is used for a number of purposes related to hormone metabolism and hormone levels in the body. Women often use DIM for symptoms of uterine fibroids, severe PMS, estrogen metabolism and skin conditions.

Men use DIM supplements to support fat metabolism, improve cardiovascular health and support libido. DIM is also used to prevent certain hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast and uterine cancer. These uses generally relate to DIM’s observed ability to affect estrogen metabolism.

DIM complex supplements are also used to treat a number of conditions, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

More research is needed to establish the therapeutic properties of DIM. Most studies have involved animal or laboratory experiments and more human studies are needed to establish the effects and long-term safety of DIM complex supplementation.

DIM Effects on Hormones Levels

DIM complex pills may improve estrogen metabolism and exhibit other hormone-balancing effects. These characteristics are attracting research interest, particularly in relation to cancer prevention.

Estrogen is the dominant female sex hormone but plays many important roles in the bodies of both males and females. However, excessively high estrogen levels have been tied to a number of ailments in both sexes, such as contributing to hormone-sensitive cancers.

To understand how DIM supports healthy estrogen levels, it is important to first see how estrogen is metabolized in the body.

Estrogen is not a single hormone but a group of similar hormones. The most common estrogens are estradiol, estriol and estrone. While these compounds play important roles in the human body, it is equally important that they are used and then excreted, either via urine or stool.

If estrogens are not used and excreted, excess estrogen levels can occur and the metabolites of estrogen (what results when estrogen is broken down) can re-enter the blood system and cause a number of health conditions.

For instance, estradiol is the dominant estrogen in women during their child-bearing years. When estradiol is metabolized in the liver it produces a number of metabolites, including 2-alpha-hydroxyestrone and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone. 16-alpa-hydroxyestrone has “genotoxic and tumorigenic effects and is thought to increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer.” [1]

DIM has been observed to shift the metabolism of estradiol to produce more of the benign 2-alpha-hydroxyestrone, which may partially explain its cancer-preventing properties.

This estrogen-metabolizing feature is also relied upon by women who often take DIM complex products to help support healthy estrogen levels.

DIM Complexes for Bodybuilding

Because of its hormone-modulating effects, diindolylmethane supplements are sometimes used by bodybuilders and other athletes to increase testosterone levels.

Testosterone and estrogen levels are closely connected in the male body. Men can produce estrogen from testosterone via the enzyme aromatase. High levels of aromatase in the body can lead to the increased production of estrogen and a corresponding decrease in testosterone levels.

DIM is sometimes combined in complexes with other supplements to help reduce estrogen levels so the effects of testosterone – such as increased muscle mass and reduced fat levels – can be achieved.

More research is needed to support the use of DIM complexes for athletic performance, fat reduction and bodybuilding. In one study, injections of DIM into the gut of mice seemed to reduce fat accumulation from a high-calorie diet.

DIM Complex Safety

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates DIM as “Likely Safe” at levels of up to 24 mg a day for up to 12 weeks. Within these parameters, no side effects have been reported. [2]

In higher doses of up to 300 mg per day, mild and temporary headaches and nausea have been noted. This level of DIM supplementation is rated “Possibly Safe” and should also be restricted to 12 weeks of consecutive administration.

Daily DIM complex doses of 300 mg or higher appears to increase the risk of hyponatremia – a condition related to the depletion of sodium reserves that can be deadly if left untreated. However, in most cases, the symptoms can be simply remedied. Natural Medicines rates this level of supplementation as “Possibly Unsafe.” [2]

DIM may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications, particularly those used for estrogen metabolism or for the treatment of hormone-sensitive conditions. DIM should not be combined with CYP1A2 cytochrome P450 substrates and/or diuretic agents.

Do not take DIM complex pills if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing. In addition, it should not be used with birth control pills.

In all cases, be sure to speak with your doctor before taking a DIM Complex supplements to reduce the risk of interactions and side effects.

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