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I3C may reduce the risk of hormone-related cancers Indole-3-carbinol
(I3C) is
a naturally occurring compound found in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.). Numerous studies have shown
the ability of I3C
to promote a healthy hormone balance. In the body, the hormone estrogen is converted into several metabolites
that vary in potency. In order to ensure the body's delicate hormone balance,
healthy estrogen metabolism and detoxification are crucial. To facilitate
detoxification and elimination, estrogen undergoes a complicated process
called hydroxylation. There are two major hydroxylation pathways for estrogen. One pathway
yields a weaker estrogen metabolite, called 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE),
and the alternative pathway yields a more potent estrogen metabolite,
called 16?-OHE. Higher levels of 16?-OHE are often associated with estrogen-related
conditions such as breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer. In a study to determine the effects of I3C
on estrogen metabolism, researchers recruited 12 healthy volunteers (seven
men and five women). Each participant was instructed to take 300 to 500
mg of I3C
per day for seven days. After measuring estrogen levels through blood and urine samples, it was
determined that I3C
favored the hydroxylation of estrogen to the 2-OHE estrogen metabolite.
According to Drs. Jon Michnovicz and Leon Bradlow in Nutrition and Cancer,
"The ability of [I3C] to strongly stimulate
[2-OHE] presents a potential chemopreventative strategy against hormone-responsive
cancers..." SOURCE: Nutr Cancer 1991;16(1):59-66.
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