DIM Side Effects, Dangers and Contraindications

Only in cases of excess dosages and/or long-term use do DIM side effects seem to be of concern.

DIM (diindolylmethane) is a natural compound that is created within our bodyes when I3C (indole-3-carbinol) enters the stomach and is acted on by digestive enzymes.

I3C is a naturally occurring substance found in plants from the Brassica family. These edibles are called “cruciferous” and include kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and more.

An average daily diet in the US provides between two and twenty-four milligrams of DIM.

There are no DIM side effects associated with daily oral supplementation in those amounts for up to twelve weeks. However, side effects may occur if it is used in higher dosages that may be recommended for therapeutic effects.

Diindolylmethane exhibits some anti-cancer and chemo-preventive effects in laboratory studies, though more research is needed in human trials to determine the full scope of its efficacy.

It is currently used by some Western allopathic doctors as a preventive treatment for breast, uterine and colon cancer.

Further, it is used to treat PMS symptoms and to alleviate benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate). In modern clinical trials sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute, DIM is demonstrating a versatile set of actions on various cancer cell lines.

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

Top DIM Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Risk of DIM Side Effects

There are no apparent side effects associated with diindolylmethane supplementation in small amounts over short time intervals.

Between 2 and 24 milligrams daily is known to be likely safe.

In clinical situations, higher doses are being experimented with, targeting various therapeutic potentials.

At doses of 300 mg daily, only stomach upset and headaches have been noted.

This level of DIM supplementation is believed to be possibly safe.

With short term dosing up to twelve weeks at less than 24 mg daily, there are no known DIM side effects for pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.

However, more research is warranted to understand the full effects of higher levels of supplementation. More than 24 mg daily is not recommended for these groups without consent from their doctors.

DIM Overdose and Hyponatremia

There have been human trials conducted with larger doses of DIM at 600 mg daily. In two cases, hyponatremia resulted; one case of which was believed to be pre-existing.

Hyponatremia results from having deficient sodium concentrations in the blood. It is the most common electrolyte disorder and affects roughly 2% of the US population.

Hyponatremia is a possible DIM side effect, especially in instances of heavy dosing or prolonged usage. It is more commonly experienced in women than men, in the elderly, and in hospital patients.

Hyponatremia is estimated to affect roughly 30% of all nursing home residents. It is also estimated to affect 30% of patients diagnosed with clinical depression and who are using SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Other facts about hyponatremia:

• Hypernatremia commonly affects about 17% of hospital patients.
• Hyponatremia is marked by serum sodium levels less than 135 mEq/L.
• Having too little dietary sodium intake is very rarely the cause of hyponatremia.
• Excessively low sodium can cause low blood volume and the subsequent release of ADH (antidiuretic hormone).
• Hyponatremia is regularly associated with pneumonia, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and other adverse conditions.

Chronic hyponatremia may induce complications including, but not restricted to neurological deterioration, loss of fluent walking skills, falling down often, slowed reaction times and more.

DIM side effects caused by hyponatremia are far more likely to be experienced by the elderly. Notably, falling down is the most prevalent cause of accidental death among people 65 and older.

Research seems to show associations between hyponatremia and osteoporosis. An individual with mild hyponatremia is almost 3 times as likely to develop osteoporosis than someone with normal sodium levels.

In cases of acute hyponatremia, significantly more serious DIM side effects may be experienced including herniations in the brain, cerebral disease, cerebral edema, cardiopulmonary arrest, seizures, coma and/or death. For this reason, Diindolylmethane doses of 600 mg daily or higher are considered to be possibly unsafe.

DIM Medicinal Properties

Diindolylmethane continues to demonstrate medicinally beneficial qualities in animal and clinical experimentation. It exhibits antioxidant, antiangiogenic, chemopreventive, anticancer, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and other properties and actions.

Some of the mechanisms of diindolylmethane action are believed to include:

• Scavenging free radical agents and preventing oxidative stress;
• Decreasing inflammatory enzymes including nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, chemokine, ligand and interleukin;
• Improving colonic structure and reducing the actions of colon myeloperoxidase;
• Stimulating the immune system and upregulating cytokine production;
• Providing numerous anticancer actions in various cancer cell lines including breast, colorectal, uterine, cervical, bladder, lung, liver and more;

The complete preventive and healing capacities of diindolylmethane are not yet understood. It shows strong promise as an anticancer/chemoprotective agent and is currently under wide-scale, human-based research.

Diindolylmethane supplementation may interact with diuretic drugs, cytochrome p450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates, and estrogen agents. Always talk with your doctor about beginning supplementation to make sure you are safe from any contraindications or DIM side effects.

Rate This Article

(14 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5, rated)