Product Information

An extract of Cruciferous Vegetables. Published scientific studies show that I3C converts cancer-causing estrogens into safe estrogens. Stops the growth of prostate cancer cells and reduces a major carcinogen in female smokers. Stops growth of cancer cells and induces cell death. Induces a 50% reduction in dangerous estrogen in one week.

Description

Indole-3-Carbinol is a type of Indole. Chemically, it is a metabolite of Glucobrassicin, which in turn is a hydrolytic product of Glucosinolates.

Health Benefits of Indole-3-Carbinol

Immune System
Indole-3-Carbinol may prevent and suppress the progression of some forms of Cancer:

Indole-3-Carbinol may suppress those forms of Cancer that are initiated by Papilloma Viruses (by modulating Estrogen metabolism).
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent some forms of Cancer by facilitating the binding of various carcinogens to Glucuronic Acid to form Glucuronides.
Indole-3-Carbinol may reduce the ability of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAAs) (e.g. PhlP) to initiate Cancer and may reduce the ability of HAAs to damage the body’s endogenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).
Indole-3-Carbinol may maintain the integrity of the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene (a Gene that helps to prevent Cancer).

Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Breast Cancer by stimulating the conversion of Estrone (the Estrogen which is known to cause Breast Cancer in excess) to its metabolite 2-Hydroxyestrone (an inactive metabolite).
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Cervical Cancer (especially Papilloma Virus (HPV-16)-initiated Cervical Cancer):

The principal underlying mechanism for the ability of Indole-3-Carbinol to prevent Cervical Cancer involves the ability of Indole-3-Carbinol to inhibit the ability of Papilloma Virus 16 to stimulate the conversion of Estrone to 16-Hydroxyestrone (a byproduct of Estrone that is a known initiator of Cervical Cancer).

Indole-3-Carbinol may counteract the ability of many dietary carcinogens to initiate Colon Cancer.
Indole-3-Carbinol may inhbit the development of Endometrial Cancer.
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Leukemia.
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Liver Cancer:

Indole-3-Carbinol may inhibit the ability of Aflatoxin to cause Liver Cancer.

Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Ovarian Cancer.
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Prostate Cancer (by modulating the effects of Estrogens in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors in Prostate cells).
Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Skin Cancer (especially Papilloma Virus-induced Skin Cancer):

Indole-3-Carbinol may help to prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma (especially Papilloma Virus-induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma).

Indole-3-Carbinol may prolong lifespan in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Metabolism

Preliminary reports indicate that Indole-3-Carbinol may alleviate some of the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). [more info]
Indole-3-Carbinol may stimulate the endogenous production of Glutathione by Liver Cells (hepatocytes).

Musculoskeletal System

Preliminary reports indicate that Indole-3-Carbinol may alleviate some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. [more info]

Indole-3-Carbinol may Enhance the Production/Function of these Substances

Carbohydrates

Indole-3-Carbinol may facilitate the binding of various substances (including carcinogens) to Glucuronic Acid to form Glucuronides (for excretion). [more info]

Hormones

Indole-3-Carbinol may inhibit the conversion of Estrone to 16-Hydroxyestrone (a carcinogenic metabolite of Estrone) and may redirect Estrone to be converted to 2-Hydroxyestrone (a safe metabolite of Estrone).

Indoles

Indole-3-Carbinol is a constituent of Ascorbigen.
Indole-3-Carbinol is metabolized to Diindolylmethane (recent research indicates that Diindolylmethane is the compound that is actually responsible for the health benefits formerly attributed to Indole-3-Carbinol). Chemically, Diindolylmethane consists of two molecules of Indole-3-Carbinol bound together.

Nucleic Acids

Indole-3-Carbinol may reduce the ability of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAAs) (e.g. PhlP) to damage the body’s endogenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

Peptides

Indole-3-Carbinol may stimulate the endogenous production of Glutathione by Liver Cells (hepatocytes). [more info]

Indole-3-Carbinol may Counteract these Potentially Toxic Substances

Amines

Indole-3-Carbinol may reduce the ability of some types of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAAs) (e.g. PhlP) to initiate Cancer and may reduce the ability of HAAs to damage the body’s endogenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

Environmental Toxins

Indole-3-Carbinol may counteract the toxic effects of Dioxin.

Hormones

Indole-3-Carbinol may stimulate the conversion of Estrone to its inactive (safe) metabolite, 2-Hydroxyestrone, and inhibits the conversion of Estrone to its carcinogenic metabolite, 16-Hydroxyestrone.

Microorganisms

Indole-3-Carbinol may inhibit the ability of Aflatoxin to cause Liver Cancer.

Dietary Sources of Indole-3-Carbinol

mmol per 100 Grams

Vegetables
Broccoli : 42.2-71.7
Cabbage :
Kale : 44.2-102.3
Turnips
Mujustard Greens : 4.2-12.2
Brussels Sprouts : 327.8-469.4
Cauliflower : 18.i8-104.7
Rutabaga :
Collards : 67.2-165.3
Kohlrabi : 27.7V
Vegetables do not actually contain Indole-3-Carbinol itself. Vegetables do contain mg/g levels of Glucobrassicin, an Indolylmethyl Glucosinolate. When the plant cells are damaged by cutting or
chewing, a thioglucosidase-mediated autolytic process takes place generating Indole-3-Carbinol,
Glucose, and thiocyanate ion.

Contraindications

Sexual System

Indole-3-Carbinol should not be used by women during Pregnancy (due to its effects on Estrogen).

Bioavailability

Administration of Indole-3-Carbinol via methods other than orally does not produce the therapeutic effects associated with Indole-3-Carbinol, indicating that Indole-3-Carbinol is metabolized to other compound within the body that exert its final therapeutic effects. These metabolites are likely to be Diindolylmethane (DIM), Indolylcarbazole (ICZ) and several others.
Oral ingestion of 400 mg of Indole-3-Carbinol results in serum levels of 0.1 0.4 micrograms per ml of Diindolylmethane (DIM) and zero serum Indole-3-Carbinol.

The (initial) major route of elimination for Indole-3-Carbinol metabolites is via the Urine. However after 40 hours of continuous dietary administration of Indole-3-Carbinol, the feces become the major route of elimination of Indole-3-Carbinol metabolites.
Serum metabolites of Indole-3-Carbinol have serum half-life of 48 hours or more.

Dosage Recommendations

The therapeutic dosage of Indole-3-Carbinol is 400 800 mg per day.
A more precise optimal therapeutic dosage of Indole-3-Carbinol is 5 7 mg per kg of body weight.

It has been estimated that the mean daily intake of Glucobrassicin 9the precursor for Indole-3-Carbinol) in the UK is approximately 19.5 mg per day from fresh and cooked sources.

On the IC3 question:

(Jacqu's HH got it WRONG here where they say the Stomach is Alkaline after a meal it is actually more ACIDIC!). They should have said duodenum, to stomach. Here is how I have explained the answer for your client tho':

We should clarify something: The stomach is NEVER actually alkaline. It is always acidic (around pH of 1). In fact, when food is consumed, stomach acid is INCREASED, to partially digest the food (this is when I3C is activated). Once the protein components of the food are partially digested, the food passes into the duodenum (small intestine) where it is alkalinised, and then absorbed into the body. This alkalinisation does not occur if no food is eaten. In otherwords the small intestine is alkaline after food is eaten, but acidic before. If no food is eaten, the duodenum (small intestine) will remain more acidic. Since absorption occurs only after food/nutrients have entered into the duodenum, if the duodenum is not acidic, nutrients that require ionistion, eg calcium or magnesium, will be better absorbed at this time (since acid ionises these nutrients). Since the duodenum is acidic on an empty stomach (ie before meals), this is the reason to take these mineral nutrients before meals, but I3C with a meal.

To summarise: Since I3C is purely activated by stomach acid, and since stomach acid is produced as a response to food, we suggest taking I3C with a meal.

There is another reason: Bile is produced after a meal, and bile dissolves the fat soluble I3C (much like soap dissolves oil), making it soluble to that it can be absorbed into the body. Bile production does not occur on an empty stomach.

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