Indole-3-carbinol

The cabbage family (Brassicaceae) includes many common vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, greens, chard, kale and Brussels sprouts. They all contain compounds called glucosinolates that have been shown in many different clinical trials to have anticancer properties. The most common and active of these compounds is called indole-3-carbinol, which is formed when these vegetables are chopped or cooked. Highest levels have been found in broccoli sprouts (made by sprouting the seeds which are available in good health food shops).

Indole-3-carbinol and glucosinolates in general are all potent antioxidants (they contain sulphur in a similar form to garlic) and are able to stimulate the natural detoxifying enzymes found mainly in the liver (but also to a lesser degree in the kidneys and gut). Clinical trials have shown that increasing dietary intake of brassicas or supplementing with indole-3-carbinol increases the conversion of oestrogen from cancer activating forms to non-toxic and protective compounds, making it extremely useful in the prevention and adjunct treatment of oestrogen-dependent cancers such as those of the breast, uterus, cervix and ovaries.

The body contains many different forms of oestrogen. Many are broken down in the liver to form 16-alpha-hydroxyoestrone that is a potent tumour promoter. There is another possible breakdown pathway though, which produces 2-hydroxyoestrogen instead of 16-alpha-hydroxyoestrone, which does not have tumour promoting properties. Indole-3-carbinol and other glucosinolates in the cabbage family stimulate the latter pathway, thus reducing the amounts of the tumour promoting breakdown product in the body and favouring the anti-tumour product.

In patients with oestrogen-sensitive cancers, it is recommended that they eat 3-5 servings of assorted brassicas per week and ideally supplementing this with indole-3-carbinol at a dosage of 400 mg per day. No side effects, interactions or contraindications are known, making these compounds very safe and effective to use.