Pilot Study: Effect of 3,3′-Diindolylmethane Supplements on Urinary Hormone Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women With a History of Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Abstract

: Dietary indoles, present in Brassica plants such as cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, have been shown to provide potential protection against hormone-dependent cancers. 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is under study as one of the main protective indole metabolites. Postmenopausal women aged 50-70 yr from Marin County, California, with a history of early-stage breast cancer, were screened for interest and eligibility in this pilot study on the effect of absorbable DIM (BioResponse-DIM®) supplements on urinary hormone metabolites. The treatment group received daily DIM (108 mg DIM/day) supplements for 30 days, and the control group received a placebo capsule daily for 30 days. Urinary metabolite analysis included 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), 16-α hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), DIM, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 6β-hydroxycortisol (6 β-OHC), and cortisol in the first morning urine sample before intervention and 31 days after intervention. Nineteen women completed the study, for a total of 10 in the treatment group and 9 in the placebo group. DIM-treated subjects, relative to placebo, showed a significant increase in levels of 2-OHE1 (P = 0.020), DIM (P = 0.045), and cortisol (P = 0.039), and a nonsignificant increase of 47% in the 2-OHE1/16 α-OHE1 ratio from 1.46 to 2.14 (P = 0.059). In this pilot study, DIM increased the 2-hydroxylation of estrogen urinary metabolites.