What Is Diindolylmethane Complex?

The Diindolylmethane (DIM) Complex is a substance thought to decrease cancer risks. It has also been shown to have considerable regulating effects on estrogen. DIM can be ingested by eating certain foods, and dietary supplement capsules are available.

Features

• DIM is produced naturally after the body digests indole-3-carbinol, a substance found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli.

Benefits

• Some studies suggest that indole-3-carbinol decreases cancer risks, most notably breast, prostate, uterine and cervical cancers. It is thought this benefit is created after the indole-3-carbinol is converted to DIM. In 2007, the National Cancer Institute reported that men who consumed one cruciferous vegetable a week reduced prostate cancer risks by 52 percent.

Effects

• According to Dr. Laura Mulvey at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, DIM's ability to regulate estrogen levels is thought to be related to its cancer prevention benefits, as the types of cancer it has been shown to affect are estrogen-related.

Types

• The DIM Complex is also available in dietary supplement form. Besides DIM, each capsule consists of a variety of additional substances to aid in digestion.

Considerations

• There is no evidence to suggest DIM is toxic, but there have yet to be considerable studies completed on its safety.