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Dim8.5
DIM Research
Likely helpsModerate safety
36 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
DIM appears to help in 3 of 4 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality randomised trials published 2004–2025 with a typical study size of 25 participants.
Based on 36 studies · 14 RCTs · 389 total participants
Confidence
Moderate
What the studies found
3helped1unclear· 32 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Cancer chemoprevention
Likely helps32 studies
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks · Supports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational9 studies
Men's vitalityImproved estrogen metabolism and hormonal balance within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
1Breast cancer risk reductionSystematic ReviewCited 5×2025
Integrating cruciferous vegetables and their bioactive compounds in light of an individual's microbiome profile as a complementary approach alongside standard treatments is a promising strategy in breast cancer care.
Ho E et al. · Annual review of nutrition (2025)
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with varying subtypes, prognoses, and treatment responses.
Cruciferous vegetables have shown promise in reducing breast cancer risk.
Integrating cruciferous vegetables and their bioactive compounds in light of an individual's microbiome profile as a complementary approach alongside standard treatments is a promising strategy in breast cancer care.
2Prevention and treatment of chronic diseases including inflammation, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, and osteoporosisSystematic ReviewCited 29×2023
This article reviews current knowledge of the occurrence of I3C in nature and foods, along with the beneficial effects of I3C and DIM concerning prevention and treatment of human chronic diseases, focusing on preclinical studies and their mechanisms of action at cellular and molecular levels.
Amarakoon D et al. · Annual review of food science and technology (2023)
One of its main in vivo metabolites is 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), formed by the condensation of two molecules of I3C.
Both I3C and DIM alter multiple signaling pathways and related molecules controlling diverse cellular events, including oxidation, inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immunity.
There is a growing body of evidence from both in vitro and in vivo models that these compounds possess strong potential to prevent several forms of chronic disease such as inflammation, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, and osteoporosis.
3Breast cancer treatment effectiveness and side effect reductionSystematic ReviewCited 23×2023
The future perspectives on the translation of these findings to the personalized treatment of BC are provided and discussed.
Singla RK et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2023)
Evidence from clinical trials suggests that such products had major potential in enhancing the effectiveness of conventional antitumor agents and decreasing their side effects.
We here provide a comprehensive review of the therapeutic effects and mechanistic underpinnings of medicinal plants and microbial metabolites in BC management.
The future perspectives on the translation of these findings to the personalized treatment of BC are provided and discussed.
4Liver disease treatment through modulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and lipogenesisSystematic ReviewCited 3×2024
Mechanistically, I3C and DIM modulate various pathophysiological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and lipogenesis.
Tian C et al. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2024)
Mechanistically, I3C and DIM modulate various pathophysiological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and lipogenesis.
This review aims to enhance researchers' understanding of the regulatory roles of I3C and DIM in these liver diseases and explore the potential of plant-derived substances in liver disease treatment.
5Cancer treatment through epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone acetylation and microRNAs expressionSystematic ReviewCited 1×2023
DNA methylation, histone acetylation and microRNAs expression in cancer treatment.
Anchimowicz J et al. · Postepy biochemii (2023)
The favourable effect on health exert glucosinolates (GSLs), a group of secondary plant metabolites found in vegetables of the Brassicaceae family, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kohlrabi.
Hydrolysis of GSLs results in the formation of compounds, like sulforaphane (SFN), phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), which are known for versatile anti-cancer activity.
This review highlights advances on the role of the chosen GSLs on selected epigenetic mechanisms, i.e.
6Inflammatory bowel disease protection through Th17/Treg balance regulationSystematic ReviewCited 70×2021
Recently, a growing body of studies has indicated that phytochemicals derived from natural products are potent regulators of Th17/Treg, and exert preferable protective benefits against colonic infl...
Chang Y et al. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2021)
Recently, a growing body of studies has indicated that phytochemicals derived from natural products are potent regulators of Th17/Treg, and exert preferable protective benefits against colonic inflammation.
7Gastrointestinal cancer prevention and treatmentSystematic ReviewCited 43×2016
Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the preventive and therapeutic properties of DIM in addition to its different perspective on the safety of DIM in clinical applications for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.
Kim SM · International journal of molecular sciences (2016)
DIM acts upon several cellular and molecular processes in gastrointestinal cancer cells, including apoptosis, autophagy, invasion, cell cycle regulation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
In addition, DIM increases the efficacy of other drugs or therapeutic chemicals when used in combinatorial treatment for gastrointestinal cancer.
The studies to date offer strong evidence to support the use of DIM as an anticancer and therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal cancer.
8Prostate cancer treatment with AR and PSA inhibitionSystematic ReviewCited 13×2016
This systematic-review examined the effects of DIM.
Li Y et al. · Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre (2016)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
BR-DIM administered in clinical trials was well tolerated, and 93% of patients had detectable prostatic DIM levels.
The inhibitory effects of BR-DIM on AR and AR target gene such as prostate-specific antigen were also observed in the clinical trial.
Our preclinical and clinical studies provide the scientific basis for a 'proof-of-concept' clinical trial in CRPC patients treated with enzalutamide in combination with BR-DIM.
10I3C and DIM role in chronic disease preventionSystematic ReviewCited 30×2016
This chapter summarizes the current experimental data on the I3C and DIM activity and the results of clinical studies indicating their role in prevention of chronic diseases.
Licznerska B et al. · Advances in experimental medicine and biology (2016)
Initially, these compounds were classified as blocking agents that increase drug-metabolizing enzyme activity.
Now it is widely accepted that I3C and DIM affect multiple signaling pathways and target molecules controlling cell division, apoptosis, or angiogenesis deregulated in cancer cells.
Although most of the current data support the role of I3C and DIM in prevention of hormone-dependent cancers, it seems that their application in prevention of the other cancer as well as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes reduction is also possible.
11Hepatic protection by I3C and DIMSystematic ReviewCited 31×2016
Indoles, especially I3C and DIM as phytochemicals, exert anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, detoxification and anti-inflammation effects on hepatic protection through pleiotropic mechanism.
Wang SQ et al. · Current drug metabolism (2016)
Indoles, especially I3C and DIM as phytochemicals, exert anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, detoxification and anti-inflammation effects on hepatic protection through pleiotropic mechanism.
13Nutraceutical treatment outcomes in prostate cancerSystematic ReviewCited 19×2014
Such strategy could become a promising newer approach for the treatment of metastatic PCa with better treatment outcome by improving overall survival.
Li Y et al. · Cancer metastasis reviews (2014)
Therefore, nutraceutical treatment in combination with conventional therapeutics could achieve better treatment outcome in prostate cancer therapy.
Interestingly, some nutraceuticals could regulate the function of cancer stem cell (CSC)-related miRNAs and associated molecules, leading to the inhibition of prostatic CSCs which are responsible for drug resistance, tumor progression, and recurrence of PCa.
Such strategy could become a promising newer approach for the treatment of metastatic PCa with better treatment outcome by improving overall survival.
14Cancer prevention and therapy with isoflavone and DIMSystematic ReviewCited 42×2013
However, more clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effects of isoflavone and DIM for the prevention of cancer development and also for the treatment of cancer either alone or in combination with conventional cancer therapeutics.
Li Y et al. · Antioxidants & redox signaling (2013)
15DIM activity against ovarian cancerSystematic ReviewCited 9×2012
Together, our pre-clinical studies demonstrate that DIM has activity against ovarian cancer and hence should be further investigated in clinical setting to exploit its therapeutic potential.
Kandala PK et al. · Current drug targets (2012)
In the present review article, we describe the anti-cancer effects of 3, 3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a compound present in cruciferous vegetables, against ovarian cancer.
DIM targets multiple aspects of cancer such as cellcycle regulation and survival, including EGFR-JAK2-STAT3 signaling, checkpoint activation, caspase activation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and anoikis.
This broad spectrum of anti-cancer activities in conjunction with low systemic toxicity accentuates the translational value of DIM in cancer therapy.
17Cancer prevention and treatment through cellular signaling pathway regulationSystematic ReviewCited 179×2009
Therefore, non-toxic "natural agents" harvested from the bounties of nature could be useful either alone or in combination with conventional therapeutics for the prevention of tumor progression and/or treatment of human malignancies.
Sarkar FH et al. · Cellular signalling (2009)
This is also consistent with the epidemiological studies showing that the consumption of fruits, soybean and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of several types of cancers.
By regulating multiple important cellular signaling pathways including NF-kappaB, Akt, MAPK, Wnt, Notch, p53, AR, ER, etc, these natural products are known to activate cell death signals and induce apoptosis in pre-cancerous or cancer cells without affecting normal cells.
Therefore, non-toxic "natural agents" harvested from the bounties of nature could be useful either alone or in combination with conventional therapeutics for the prevention of tumor progression and/or treatment of human malignancies.
18Breast and cervical cancer preventionSystematic ReviewCited 317×2005
Initial clinical trials in women have shown that I3C is a promising agent against breast and cervical cancers.
Aggarwal BB et al. · Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) (2005)
In vivo, I3C was found to be a potent chemopreventive agent for hormonal-dependent cancers such as breast and cervical cancer.
These effects are mediated through its ability to induce apoptosis, inhibit DNA-carcinogen adduct formation, and suppress free-radical production, stimulate 2-hydroxylation of estradiol, inhibit invasion and angiogenesis.
Numerous studies have indicated that I3C also has a strong hepatoprotective activity against various carcinogens.
19Chemopreventive effects of I3C, DIM and cardamom constituentsSystematic ReviewCited 37×2010
This review is focused on the patents generated on the effects of I3C, DIM and selected phytochemicals of cardamom on carcinogenesis.
Acharya A et al. · Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture (2010)
Likewise, DIM and its derivatives are patented for treatment and prevention of leiomyomas, HPV infection, respiratory syncytial virus, angiogenesis, atherosclerosis and anti-proliferative actions.
On the other hand, phytochemicals in cardamom have not been explored in great details but limonene and cineole demonstrate promising effects against carcinogenesis.
Thus studies with selected phytochemicals of cardamom and bioavailability research might lead to many patent applications.
Although definitive trials need to use a robust clinical endpoint (such as histology), all future trials should include biomarkers to study the subclinical effect of the study agent.
Sasieni P · Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology (2006)
Randomised controlled clinical trials have generally been small and the results have not been encouraging.
Beneficial effects on neoplasia have been shown for a couple of agents that have since been abandoned due to adverse side-effects.
Indoles were used successfully in a very small clinical trial of women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and a larger trial using diindolylmethane in women with mildly abnormal cervical smears is underway.