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Recently,
researches have expressed much interest in the possible benefits of
reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancers by
increasing the consumption of vegetables from the Brassica family.
In particular they are excited about the extraction of the
concentrated constituent, Diindolylmethane responsible for this
effect.
At the University of
California at Berkeley, the Director of the National Institutes of
Health Cancer Research Program announced the university were
studying the anticancer properties of Diindolylmethane (DIM), a
naturally occurring compound found in Brassica vegetables (broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts), when they made a
remarkable discovery:
DIM would appear to
be a potent activator of the immune response system. Activation of
the immune system in part explains DIM's anticancer properties, and
for the first time, sheds light on its potent antiviral and
antibacterial properties. The supplement provides phytonutrients
equivalent to approximately five pounds of fresh organic uncooked
broccoli, tomatoes and spinach per day. All broccoli extract
supplements on the market today, without exception, do not have the
active ingredient of Diindolylmethane as their manufacturing
process (heat or freeze drying) destroys the enzyme necessary for
the production of the key phytonutrients present in this supplement.
In America
Diindolylmethane has been release as a supplement under the name of
ActivaMune while in Australia a company called MD Nutritionals has
the licensed and markets the supplement under the name of Indolplex.
About DIM
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a natural compound formed during the
autolytic breakdown of glucobrassicin present in food plants of the
Brassica genus, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower and kale. The autolytic breakdown of glucobrassicin
requires the catalytic reaction of the enzyme myrosinase which is
endogenous to these plants and released upon rupture of the cell
wall.
Solubility and Bioavailability
Diindolylmethane is a lipophilic oil-soluble compound. Similar to
other oil-soluble phytochemicals, the presence of oil and other
lipophilic compounds, such as phosphatidylcholine and Vitamin E,
greatly increases the absorption and bioavailability of DIM upon
oral administration.
Researchers at the
University of California at Berkeley suggest that Diindolylmethane
(DIM) may be useful in reducing the risk of such conditions as
benign or cyclical breast pain, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH),
breast cancer, cervical dysplasia, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis,
fibrocystic breast disease (FBD), human papilloma virus (HPV)-
associated conditions, menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS),
sensitivity to and in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy,
sexual vitality (females and males), uterine fibroids, weight
management and for stimulating ketogenesis (while allowing higher
carbohydrate intake)
While the research on
Diindolylmethane looks promising, research on the vegetable extract
is still at its early stages.
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