Indole-3 Carbinol
Updated Mar. 01st, 2022
Broccoli is an excellent source of Indole-3 carbinol, which has anti-cancer properties, aids in the detoxification of estrogen, reduces free radicals, and helps to protect the liver.
What is it?
A substance found in cruciferous (Brassica family) vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli, kale, and similar green leaf vegetables, indole-3 carbinol (I3C) offers powerful antioxidant properties.
It is also known to promote more efficient estrogen metabolism, helping to decrease excess estrogen or prevent estrogens from building up in the body. This is particularly useful for many female cancers that can be estrogen dependent (like some breast, cervical and endometrial cancers), meaning they grow dependent on the amount of (excess) estrogen in the system. Both I3C and DIM are being examined in clinical trials for their treatment of various types of cancer.
I3C and Cancer, particularly Breast Cancer
Initial research into I3C use has shown great promise for its role as an anti-cancer therapeutic in a wide range of cancers including: lung, liver, colon, cervical, endometrial, prostate, and breast cancers. I3C is a precursor to diindolylmethane (DIM). Emerging evidence has shown that exposure of human cancer cells to I3C or DIM trigger transcriptional, cell signaling, enzymatic, and metabolic changes that directly lead to the stoppage of replication and/or apoptosis (regulated cell death). This has been particularly well studied in estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers, where I3C has also been seen to prevent BRCA1-dependent cell migration. This implicates I3C as a possible agent to reduce the metastasis of BRCA1 positive breast cancers. Interestingly, I3C has even found to be additionally beneficial when used in conjunction with Tamoxifen, a common anti-cancer agent used in breast cancer.
I3C and Lupus (SLE)
There is also some very promising research on the use of I3C for the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythmatous (SLE or Lupus). Primarily affecting women, Lupus has also been associated with estrogen dominance. It is proposed that I3C can block the development of certain B and T cells of the immune system, which then causes a drop in the auto-antibody production thought to be a major causative factor in the development of Lupus.
I3C and DIM
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a product of the digestion of I3C in the presence of stomach acid. It has independent metabolic effects as well in both men and women. It may be beneficial to supplement DIM in the place of I3C in people with reduced stomach acid. For more information on DIM, please click here.
How can I take I3C?
I3C can be consumed in the diet, or found in capsule form, if supplementation is needed. Recent research has suggested a chemopreventative dose of 300mg/day.
Important Information
I3C is considered safe in both food/diet amounts and therapeutic dosages, although high supplementation has caused skin rashes and small increases in liver enzymes, less frequently tremors and nausea. Overuse and/or preventative use of I3C is further ill advised because of its hormone altering effects in normal individuals that can result in systemic hormone dysregulation. For this reason, do not use as a supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding.