Bodybuilding.com - Clayton's Health Facts: Diindolyl Methane.

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Diindolyl Methane.

Clayton South, SPN (ISSA), is a recognized expert in the bodybuilding / fitness industry with over 150 bodybuilding, fitness and nutrition publications to his credit.

1. What is it and where does it come from?

Diindolyl methane is a dietary indole found in cruciferous vegetables. DIM occurs naturally within the cruciferous vegetable plant after crushing or chewing. Plant enzymes produce DIM form precursors called glucosinolates.

2. What does it do and what scientific studies
give evidence to support this?

It supports the activity of specific enzymes that imporve estrogen metabolism. Scientific research shows diindolylmethane increases the level of "good" estrogens (2-hydroxyestrogen) while reducing the level of "bad" estorgens (16-hydroxyestrogen).

The health benefits of "enhanced absorption" diindolylmethane are four-fold:

promotes healthy testosterone levels.

promotes healthy estrogen metabolism.

relieves PMS symptoms.

promotes fat loss.

supports healty breast, cervical, uterine and prostate tissues.

3. How is DIM important in Health?

In men, diminished estrogen metabolism and estrogen accumulation are central problems associated with aging. DIM strongly promotes its own metabolism and in doing so increases a more active and beneficial metabolism of estrogen. This estrogen metabolism is better because it converts estradiol health promoting 2-hydoxy metabolites. These metabolites help free testosterone from its binding protein for greater testosterone activity and can reduce testosterone and estrogen stimulation of the prostate gland.

Together with a healthy diet and exercise, the metabolic shift from DIM results in a "younger" balance of testosterone to estrogen. DIM supplementation is compatible with natural testosterone replacement. DIM works very well for maintaining and increasing healthy testosterone levels when combined with anabolic prohormones without the increased estradiol side-effects. Such prohormones include: 19-norandrostenediol, 19-norandrostenedione, 5-androstenediol and 4-androstenediol.

4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

In his paperback book, All About DIM (Avery, 2000), Dr. Zeligs recommends women take 100 to 200 mg of "enhanced absorption" diindolylmethane daily. For fat loss he notes a daily dose of 300 mg was helpful as part of an overall weight management program. Men, however, should take up to 400 mg per day when they are engaged in excercise training programs.