Indole-3-carbinol: anticarcinogen or tumor promoter in brassica vegetables? Oxidations of 17beta-estradiol and estrone and their interconversions catalyzed by liver, mammary gland and mammary tumor after acute and chronic treatment of rats with indole-3-carbinol or beta-naphthoflavone. Ritter CL, Prigge WF, Reichert MA, Malejka-Giganti D. Ligand-independent activation of estrogen receptor function by 3, 3'-diindolylmethane in human breast cancer cells. Riby JE, Chang GH, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF. Indole-3-carbinol and 3,3'-diindolylmethane induce apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Nachshon-Kedmi M, Yannai S, Haj A, Fares FA. Induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line, PC3, by 3,3'-diindolylmethane through the mitochondrial pathway. Inhibition of carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor growth and other estrogen-dependent responses by symmetrical dihalo-substituted analogs of diindolylmethane. McDougal A, Sethi Gupta M, Ramamoorthy K, Sun G, Safe SH. Methyl-substituted diindolylmethanes as inhibitors of estrogen-induced growth of T47D cells and mammary tumors in rats. McDougal A, Gupta MS, Morrow D, Ramamoorthy K, Lee JE, Safe SH. Estrogen metabolism and the diet-cancer connection: rationale for assessing the ratio of urinary hydroxylated estrogen metabolites. Cytostatic effects of 3,3'-diindolylmethane in human endometrial cancer cells result from an estrogen receptor-mediated increase in transforming growth factor-alpha expression. Plant-derived 3,3'-diindolylmethane is a strong androgen antagonist in human prostate cancer cells. Le HT, Schaldach CM, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF. Bcl-2 family-mediated apoptotic effects of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) in human breast cancer cells. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane induces apoptosis in human cancer cells.Д«iochem Biophys Res Commun. Ge X, Yannai S, Rennert G, Gruener N, Fares FA. Selective cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of glucosinolates hydrolysis products on human colon cancer cells in vitro. Gamet-Payrastre L, Lumeau S, Gasc N, Cassar G, Rollin P, Tulliez J. Pilot study: effect of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Identification of estrogen-induced genes downregulated by AhR agonists in MCF-7 breast cancer cells using suppression subtractive hybridization.ДЄryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated antiestrogenic and antitumorigenic activity of diindolylmethane (DIM).Дalessandri KM, Firestone GL, Fitch MD, Bradlow HL, Bjeldanes LF. Indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane induce apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells and in murine HPV16-transgenic preneoplastic cervical epithelium. Cytostatic and antiestrogenic effects of 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane, a major in vivo product of dietary indole-3-carbinol.Д¬hen DZ, Qi M, Auborn KJ, Carter TH. However, there is no evidence that it actually works.Д¬hang YC, Riby J, Chang GH, Peng BC, Firestone G, Bjeldanes LF. 29,30ДЄccording to some manufacturers, DIM can enhanceД®nhance sports performance. These includeД¬ervical dysplasia and respiratory papillomatosis. Highly preliminary evidence hints that DIM may offer benefit for diseases caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). 28ДЄgain, on some websites this effect has been over-optimistically termed вЂњbalancing testosterone levels.вЂќ The overall effect is far too complex and poorly understood to be described as вЂњbalancing estrogen in the body,вЂќ which is what many websites say about DIM.ДIM also appears to have an anti-testosterone effect, which could make it helpful for preventing or treating breast cancer. In addition, DIN blocks certain effects of estrogen on cells however, it may enhance other effects of estrogen. 20-27ДIM appears to alter liver function in such a manner that an increased amount of estrogen becomes metabolized into inactive forms. Some of DIMвЂ™s apparent anticancer benefits appear to derive from its complex interactions with estrogen. As with many proposed cancer-preventing substances, there are also circumstances in which DIM might actually increase the risk of cancer.

However, this evidence is far too preliminary to serve as the basis for recommending that anyone use DIM. Animal studies hint that DIM is might help prevent various types of cancer, especially breast, cervical, prostate, and uterine cancer.

Dim benefits