Whats the difference between indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) and DIM?
Indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) is the chemical name of a substance naturally occurring in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. Scientists have been studying the health benefits of I-3-C for a number of years, and believes it helps protect against certain types of cancers, such as breast and uterine because of its impact on the metabolism of estrogen in the body. Scientists now know that I-3-C is converted in the stomach to a different chemical called di-indolylmethane (DIM) when it comes in contact with digestive juices, and DIM is believed to be the major “active” metabolite, meaning that it has been shown to carry most, if not all, of the health-benefits ascribed to I-3-C. The question might then be raised: “Why not just isolate and take a DIM supplement, if that’s the active ingredient or metabolite? The answer is that, while DIM has shown interesting benefits, it is by no means the ONLY active ingredient converted from I-3-C; in fact, more
