Clinical Applications
- Supports Estrogen Balance (can assist in PCOS, PMS, PMDD, Acne)
- Supports Proper Estrogen Metabolism for Women and Men (can assist in women or men over 40 with natural decline in estrogen clearance)
- Reduces aromatization & Improves Free or Active Testosterone -> less conversion of testosterone to estrogen (can assist if on hormone replacement therapy)
- Improves Estrogen Detoxification Pathways (inhibits beta-glucuronidase improving detoxification of estrogens, foreign molecules and fat-soluble toxins)
- Provides Cellular Antioxidant Support for DNA Stability (increase healthy estrogens (2-OHE) & decrease higher risk estrogens (4-OHE & 16-αOHE)
- Most women on HRT should be taking this!
Estrogen collectively refers to the female hormones estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). Estrogen is an important hormone messenger that interacts with cells throughout the body, most notably breast and prostate tissues. The most important message they deliver to cells is to grow, divide and multiply. For this reason, hormones (especially estrogen) are critically important in human development and tissue repair. Supporting proper estrogen synthesis, metabolism and detoxification is essential for proper hormonal balance.
DIM Elite CDG is a targeted supplement that combines the synergistic benefits of the cruciferous vegetable metabolites indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3-3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) with Calcium D-glucarate (CDG) to support balanced estrogen metabolism. Formulating I3C and DIM together creates the ideal combination of beneficial metabolites that work together to support estrogen balance and breast and prostate health.1-4 However, estrogen’s proliferative effects must be balanced and controlled for optimal health. To ensure proper hormonal balance, estrogen synthesis and detoxification should be supported as estrogen has several downstream metabolites, some of which are beneficial while others possess potentially harmful biological activity.
Preclinical data on I3C and DIM suggest that these phytonutrient metabolites have a strong potential for supporting breast, cervical, endometrium and prostate health. Together I3C and DIM promote the metabolism of the more favorable and protective estrogen metabolite, 2-hydroxyesterone (2-OHE), versus production of the less favorable 4-hydroxyesterone (4-OHE) and 16-α-hydroxyesterone (16-αOHE).5,6 In contrast to 2-OHE, both 4-OHE and 16-αOHE have been shown to overstimulate cells and create free radicals that contribute to DNA damage.7-8 Several human supplementation studies with both male and female subjects consistently show that urinary levels of 2-OHE and the ratio of 2-OHE to 16-αOHE increase following supplementation with I3C.5,6,9-11 The increases seen in the ratio of 2-OHE to 16-αOHE in subjects supplementing with I3C are advantageous as this ratio of estrogen metabolites is a marker of a more favorable estrogen metabolite profile.
Another benefit of both I3C and DIM have been shown in vitro to decrease aromatase expression, which is the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen.12
Calcium D-glucarate is the supplemental calcium salt form of D-glucaric acid, a substance produced naturally in the body and obtained through consumption of certain fruits and vegetables. Calcium D-glucarate has been extensively studied and has been shown to inhibit beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme found in certain bacteria that reside in the gut. This activity supports the body’s ability to detoxify estrogens, foreign molecules and fat-soluble toxins.12-15
References
1. Jin L, Qi M, Chen DZ, et al. Indole-3-carbinol prevents cervical cancer in human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) transgenic mice. Cancer Res. 1999;59(16):3991-3997.
2. Kojima T, Tanaka T, Mori H. Chemoprevention of spontaneous endometrial cancer in female Donryu rats by dietary indole-3-carbinol. Cancer Res. 1994;54(6):1446- 1449.
3. Auborn KJ, Fan S, Rosen EM, et al. Indole-3-carbinol is a negative regulator of estrogen. J Nutr. 2003;133(7 Suppl):2470s-2475s.
4. Chinni SR, Li Y, Upadhyay S, Koppolu PK, Sarkar FH. Indole3-carbinol (I3C) induced cell growth inhibition, G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Oncogene. 2001;20(23):2927-2936.
5. Michnovicz JJ, Adlercreutz H, Bradlow HL. Changes in Levels of Urinary Estrogen Metabolites After Oral Indole-3-Carbinol Treatment in Humans. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1997;89(10):718-723.
6. McAlindon TE, Gulin J, Chen T, Klug T, Lahita R, Nuite M. Indole-3-carbinol in women with SLE: effect on estrogen metabolism and disease activity. Lupus. 2001;10(11):779- 783.
7. Cavalieri EL, Stack DE, Devanesan PD, et al. Molecular origin of cancer: catechol estrogen-3,4-quinones as endogenous tumor initiators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94(20):10937- 10942.
8. Telang NT, Suto A, Wong GY, Osborne MP, Bradlow HL. Induction by estrogen metabolite 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone of genotoxic damage and aberrant proliferation in mouse mammary epithelial cells. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992;84(8):634- 638.
9. Reed GA, Peterson KS, Smith HJ, et al. A phase I study of indole-3-carbinol in women: tolerability and effects. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005;14(8):1953-1960.
10. Wong GY, Bradlow L, Sepkovic D, Mehl S, Mailman J, Osborne MP. Dose-ranging study of indole-3-carbinol for breast cancer prevention. J Cell Biochem Suppl. 1997;28-29:111-116.
11. Bradlow HL, Michnovicz JJ, Halper M, Miller DG, Wong GY, Osborne MP. Long-term responses of women to indole-3- carbinol or a high fiber diet. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1994;3(7):591-595.
12. Ashok BT, Chen Y, Liu X, Bradlow HL, Mittelman A, Tiwari RK. Abrogation of estrogen-mediated cellular and biochemical effects by indole-3-carbinol. Nutr Cancer. 2001;41(1-2):180-187.
13. Hanausek M, Walaszek Z, Slaga TJ. Detoxifying cancer causing agents to prevent cancer. Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Jun;2(2):139-44.
14. Singh J, Gupta KP. Calcium glucarate prevents tumor formation in mouse skin. Biomed Environ Sci. 2003 Mar;16(1):9-16. 22. Review. Calcium-D-glucarate. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Aug;7(4):336-9.
15. Walaszek Z, Szemraj J et al. Metabolism, uptake, and excretion of a D-glucaric acid salt and its potential use in cancer prevention. Cancer Detect Prev. 1997;21(2):178-90.
