DIM Supplement Update = New Study!
DIM is a concentrated supplement that is used in improving estrogen detoxification. There are caveats to using it if you are in perimenopause. In fact, I don’t use it for postmenopausal women! If you want a refresher, I wrote this article a while ago but I want to cover some new research especially as not everyone believes in using DIM.
DIM stands for 3,3,diindolymethane.
Brassica family foods such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower, bok choy, and Brussel sprouts contain an ingredient known as indole-3-carbinol (I3C). When I3C hits your stomach acid, it turns into several compounds, one of which is DIM.
DIM can play an important role in helping estrogen move out of circulation and pushed appropriately through phase 1 estrogen detoxification (known as estrogen metabolism). There isn’t a lot of great research on DIM or estrogen detoxification. In the 2024 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, researchers did a retrospective cohort study evaluating 19,294 hormone test results to see who was on DIM (909 women) or not on DIM (18,385 women). Then, they evaluated a small subset of 53 women who did testing before and after DIM use.
Please keep in mind, a retrospective cohort study means that researchers go in and evaluate data AFTER THE FACT. The researchers had no control of type of DIM, dosage of DIM, or why so few did a before and after. It’s similar to if researchers were to get access to your bank and credit card statement to tell you about what you spent your money on the last year and look for trends.
In the study, they found that those using DIM tended to see a decrease in the main estrogens, estrone, estradiol and estriol. They also found an improvement in the “healthier” phase 1 detoxification pathway 2-OH and away from the estrogenic 16-OH pathway. Sometimes this is known as the 2/16-OH ratio.
What does this mean? It means DIM seems to help lower your estrogen levels by directing them more appropriately through phase 1 detoxification like an usher quickly directing you out of the main crowd to the the right exit door of a stadium.
For this reason, I personally only suggest DIM to my patients who have elevated levels of estrogens on testing and the symptoms to match. This often includes PMS, heavy periods, clots with periods, breast tenderness, etc. These symptoms can also indicate low or lower progesterone however I am specific in saying estrogen itself is high in testing.
To my knowledge, DIM does not affect progesterone. I’m only discussing estrogens in this article. If your progesterone is low, I have a great YouTube video to help!
If someone has low levels of estrogens, I personally do not use DIM because I have seen DIM lower estrogen levels even more resulting in symptoms. This is why I don’t use DIM in post-menopausal women or any woman with low estrogens. It’s also why I’m careful in perimenopausal women who have chaotic estrogen fluctuations.
For these women with low estrogen, I start with phase 2 or phase 3 estrogen detoxification support instead if they need it. This article helps explain it. This video will also help.
I do love brassica vegetables! I would never vilify broccoli, kale, cauliflower, etc. Honestly, they don’t contain enough I3C to then turn into DIM in your body to be at the therapeutic levels you might want. Supplements are highly concentrated usually at doses between 50-200mg of DIM.
If your practitioner is new to the idea of DIM, or doesn’t understand the caveats when recommending it to you as part of your plan, please pass along these resources to help!