In animal studies, the ingestion of Indole-3-Carbinol has been shown to inhibit the growth of PC-3-type human
prostate cancer cells by arresting their cell division cycle and by promoting apoptosis (programmed cell death).8 A
Seat le study of men living in that city indicated that men consuming three or more servings per week of cruciferous
vegetables had a risk of prostate cancer that was 50% lower than men consuming fewer servings of these
vegetables, after controlling for other confounding variables.33 To date there no human intervention trials have
tested Indole-3-Carbinol as a preventive or therapeutic agent against prostate cancer.
Dosage and Standardized Grade
1. General Health Maintenance: 25-100 mg per day34
2. Therapeutic Applications: 300-400 mg per day23
Adverse Side Effects, Toxicity and Contraindications
At doses of 800 mg per day, Indole-3-Carbinol has caused dizziness and unsteady gait (signs of nervous system
toxicity) in humans and in animal studies. As well, Indole-3-Carbinol is a powerful stimulator of phase I detoxification
enzymes, and as such, it may speed up the detoxification of certain medications, changing their required dosage.
However, one challenge study of this kind revealed that Indole-3-Carbinol intake did not interfere with oral
contraceptive medications.33 Nevertheless, health practitioners and patients should monitor their response to Indole-3-
Carbinol supplementation, if taken at therapeutic doses concurrently with other drugs. According to animal studies,
this appears to be especially true in regards to the following medications:
testosterone replacement therapy
oral contraceptives
hormone replacement therapy
anti-seizure medications
immune-suppressant and anti-viral drugs
digoxin33
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
1. Antacids and Heartburn medications (H-2 antagonist drugs ): By reducing stomach acidity these drugs reduce the
absorption of indole-3-carbinol. Therefore, they should not be taken at the same time of day or at the same meal.33
2. More Rapid Detoxification Of Other Drugs: As stated above, Indole-3-Carbinol may speed up the detoxification of
any number of drugs due to its stimulation affect on phase I detoxification centers. Thus, patient monitoring is
required with Indole-3-Carbinol supplementation at the therapeutic doses mentioned previously (300-400 mg per
day).33
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Pregnancy and Lactation
During pregnancy and lactation, the only supplements that are considered safe include standard prenatal
vitamin and mineral supplements. All other supplements or dose alterations may pose a threat to the
developing fetus and there is generally insuf icient evidence at this time to determine an absolute level of
safety for most dietary supplements other than a prenatal supplement. Any supplementation practices
beyond a prenatal supplement should involve the cooperation of the at ending physician (e.g., magnesium
and the treatment of preeclampsia.)
References: Pregnancy and Lactation
1. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Murray M. Prima Publishing 1998.
2. Reavley NM. The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs. Evans and
Company Inc. 1998.
3. The Healing Power of Herbs (2nd edition). Murray M. Prima Publishing 1995.
4. Boon H and Smith M. Health Care Professional Training Program in Complementary Medicine.
Institute of Applied Complementary Medicine Inc. 1997.
1. Hecht SS. Chemoprevention of cancer by isothiocyanates, modifiers of carcinogen metabolism. J Nutr, 1999;129:7688-94S
2. Verhoeven DT, Goldbohm RA, van Poppel G, et al. A review of mechanisms underlying anticarcinogenicity by brassica vegetables. Chem
Biol Interact, 1997;103:79-129 [review]
3. Verhoeven DT, Goldbohm RA, van Poppel, G., et al. Epidemiological studies on brassica vegetables and cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev, 1996;5:733-48 [review]
4. Talaley P, Zhang Y. Chemoprotection against cancer by isothiocyanates and glucosinolates. Biochem Soc Trans, 1996;24:806-10
5. Maheo L, Morel F, Langouet S, et al. Inhibition of cytochromes P-450 and induction of glutathione S-transferases by sulforaphane in
primary human and rat hepatocytes. Cancer Res, 1997;57:3649-52
6. Barcelo S, Gardiner JM, Gescher A. Chipman JK. CYP2E1-mediated mechanism of anti-genotoxicity of the broccoli constituent
sulforaphane. Carcinogenesis, 1996;17:277-82
7. Plumb GW, Lambert N, Chambers SJ, et al. Are whole extracts and purified glucosinolates from cruciferous vegetables antioxidants?
Free Radic Res, 1996;25:75-86
8. Dhinmi SR, Li Y, Upadhyay S, Koppolu PK, Sarkar FH. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) – induced cell growth inhibition, G1 cell cycle arrest and
apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Oncogene, 24May2001;20(23):2927-36
9. Stoewsand GS. Bioactive organosulfur phytochemicals in Brassica oleracea vegetables – a review. Food Chem Toxicol, 1995;33:537-43
10. Broadbent TA, Broadbent HS. The chemistry and pharmacology of indole-3-carbinol (indole-3-methanol) and 3-(methoxymethyl) Indole.
[Part I]. Curr Med Chem, 1998;5:337-52
11. Broadbent TA, Broadbent HS. The chemistry and pharmacology of indole-3-carbinol (indole-3-methanol) and 3-(methoxymethyl) Indole.
[Part II]. Curr Med Chem, 1998;5:469-91
12. Broadbent TA, Broadbent HS. The chemistry and pharmacology of indole-3-carbinol (indole-3-methanol) and 3-(methoxymethyl) Indole.
[Part I]. Curr Med Chem, 1998;5:337-52
13. Broadbent TA, Broadbent HS. The chemistry and pharmacology of indole-3-carbinol (indole-3-methanol) and 3-(methoxymethyl) Indole.
[Part II]. Curr Med Chem, 1998;5:469-91
14. Beecher CW. Cancer preventive properties of varieties of Brassica oleracea: a review. Am J Clin Nutr, May1994;59(5suppl):1166S-70S
15. Loub WD, et al. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction in rat tissues by naturally occurring indoles of cruciferous plants. JNCI,
1975;54:985-8
16. McDanell R, et al. Differential induction of mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity in rat liver and intestine by diets containing processed
cabbage. Food chem. Toxicol, 1987;25:363-8
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Meschino Health Comprehensive Guide to Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
17. Hendrich S. Bjeldanes, LF. Effects of dietary cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Ilicium verum, Schizandra chinensis and alfa alfa on the
benzopyrene metabolic enzyme system in mouse liver. Food Chem Toxicol, 1983;21:479-86
18. Osborne MP, et al. Increase in the extent of estradiol 16 alpha-hydroxylation in human breast tissue: A potential biomarker of breast
cancer risk. JNCI, 1993;85:1917-20
19. Michnovicz JJ. Increased estrogen 2-hydroxylation in obese women using oral indole-3-carbinol. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord,
1998;22:227-9
20. Bradlow HL, Michnovicz JJ, Halper M., et al. Long-term responses of women to indole-3-carbinol or a high fiber diet. Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev, 1994;3:591-5
21. Tiwari RK., et al. Selective responsiveness of human breast cancer cells to indole-3-carbinol, a chemopreventive agent. JNCI,
1994;86(2):126-31
22. Stoewsand GS, et al. Protective effects of dietary Brussels sprouts against mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cancer
Lett, 1988;39:199-207
23. Michnovicz JJ, Bradlow, H.L. (1990) Induction of estradiol metabolism by dietary indole-3-carbinol in humans. JNCI, 1990;82:947-9
24. Bradfield CA, Bjeldanes LF. Effect of dietary indole-3 carbinol on intestinal and hepatic monooxygenase, gluatathione-S-Transferase and
epoxide hydrolase activities in rat. Food Chem Toxicol, 1984;22:977-82
25. Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Telang NT, Osborne MP. Indole-3-carbinol. A novel approach to breast cancer prevention. Ann NY Acad Sci,
1999;889:204-13
26. Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Telang NT, Osborne MP. Indole-3-carbinol. A novel approach to breast cancer prevention. Ann NY Acad Sci,
1995;768:180-200
27. Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Telang NT, Osborne MP. Multifunctional aspects of the action of indole-3-carbinol as an antitumor agent. Ann
NY Acad Sci, 1999;889:204-13
28. Meng Q, Qi M, Chen D.X. et al. Suppression of breast cancer invasion and migration by indole-3-carbinol: associated with up-regulation
of BRCA1 and E-cadherin/catenin complexes. J Mol Med, 2000;78:155-65
29. Bell MC, Crowley-Nowick P, Bradlow HL, et al. Placebo-controlled trial of indole-3-carbinol in the treatment of CIN. Gynecol Oncol,
2000:78;123-9
30. Yuan F, Chen DZ, Liu K, et al. Anti-estrogenic activities of indole-3-carbinol in cervical cells. Implication for prevention of cervical cancer.
Anticancer Res, 1999;19(3A):1673-80
31. Jin L, Qi M, Chen DZ, et al. Indole-3-carbinol prevents cervical cancer in human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) transgenic mice.
Cancer Res, 1999;59:3991-7
32. Rosen CA, Woodson GE, Thompson JW, et al. Preliminary results of the use of indole-3-carbinol for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1998;118:810-5
33. Zeligs M. The Cruciferous Choice. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients. Aug/Sept 2001, (217/218):p47-48
34. Sabinsa Corporation. Indole-3-Carbinol Product Manual (www.sabinsa.com)
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Meschino Health Comprehensive Guide to Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Lipoic Acid ( Thioctic Acid)
General Features
Lipoic Acid is a sulfur-containing, vitamin like substance. Although the body manufactures Lipoic Acid, under certain
circumstances, supplementation has been shown to be beneficial.
Lipoic Acid functions as a co-enzyme (with vitamin B1 and niacin) in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl co-enzyme A,
thus it is essential for aerobic energy metabolism.1
Lipoic Acid is also a water soluble and fat soluble antioxidant.2 With coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E, it appears to protect
mitochondrial DNA from the damaging ef ects of oxygen-free radicals; providing a potential anti-aging ef ect in
preserving mitochondrial DNA structure and function.3
Supplementation Studies