<p>Anti-Cancer and Other Biological Effects of a Dietary Compound 3,3ʹ-Diindolylmethane Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Human Clinical Trials</p>

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the human clinical trial published studies regarding a dietary compound 3,3ʹ-diindolylmethane (DIM) clinical efficacy towards the prevention and treatment of cancer and other diseases, its bioavailability, safety, and consistency of the results. Methods: An electronic literature search of PubMed database (14), Cochrane Clinical Trials library (3), and Google Scholar (5) from inception to Feb 2020 was conducted. All the in vitro, animal, epidemiological, and review studies of DIM were excluded. Twenty-two randomized or controlled human clinical trials with prospective/retrospective studies published in the English language and that involved DIM intervention on human participants were extracted. Results: DIM has increased estrogen metabolism, decreased androgen-specific antigen, upregulated BRCA1 expression, and increased androgen hormone-binding globulin. This suggests that DIM may have a promising beneficial role as a chemo-preventive supplement for breast and prostate cancers. DIM has shown some clinical efficacy to treat cervical/ prostate dysplasia, human papilloma-virus, and warts. Conclusion: The absence of clinical evidence about DIM efficacy to treat prostate or breast cancer patients is the concern as this dietary compound is being advocated as a supplement in the market to treat these disease conditions. The maximum DIM intervention time for breast and prostate cancer patients was 28 days and 12 months, respectively, and most of the prospective trials were targeting DIM biological fate, than adequately addressing DIM efficacy in treating breast or prostate cancer.

Exploring the anti‐cancer potential of dietary phytochemicals for the patients with breast cancer: A comprehensive review

“…For instance, daidzein, genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, and formononetin‐A are phytoestrogen in nature and found in the form of flavonoids in soy and soy products 54–57 . Lutein, 3,3‐Diindolylmethane, benzyl isothiocyanate, kaempferol, and quercetin are available in green leafy vegetables including spinach, broccoli, peas, and herbs such as dill, chives, onion, leeks, and egg yolks 9,58–60 . In addition, vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, and fruits such as citruses, watermelon, apples, pink guava, pink grapefruit, papaya, passion flower fruit, and dried apricots, are the significant source of 2‐hydroxychalcone, 61 lycopene, 62 naringenin 63 .…”

Biosynthesis of anticancer phytochemical compounds and their chemistry

“…Nano-structured lipid carriers were used to increase the bioavailability of these drugs ( Godugu et al, 2016 ). Although 3.3′diindoylmethane (DIM) is advocated for its efficiency in the treatment of breast and cancer patients, the majority of the prospective trials focused more on the biological fate of DIM than they did on the effectiveness of DIM in the treatment of breast or prostate cancer ( Amare, 2020 ).…”

Androgen receptor modulation and bladder cancer prevention – a short review

“…Several clinical studies have examined DIM properties in various cancers such as prostate and breast cancer, thyroid disease, cervical dysplasia, etc. [20,88,89]. Perhaps the most interesting is that DIM affects the growth of biotransformation enzymes like UGT.…”