https://www.lef.org/ LE Magazine January 2006 I3C & DIM Natural, Dual-Action Protection Against Deadly Cancers By Dale Kiefer With the increasing toxicity of our natural environment, guarding against cancer is an essential part of the quest for a longer, healthier life. Despite the expenditure of hundreds of billions of research dollars, the war on cancer has yet to produce a significant cure for most forms of this deadly disease. As a result, all health-conscious adults are advised to adopt an aggressive strategy of cancer prevention. Fortunately, scientists have identified and isolated remarkable chemicals in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and watercress that can protect against cellular changes that lead to colon, breast, thyroid, and other cancers.1-12 Many studies have demonstrated that specific compounds isolated from these vegetables—including diindolylmethane (DIM) and its precursor, indole-3-carbinol (I3C)—have unique cancer-fighting benefits. These compounds have been found to alter estrogen metabolism in both men and women, thus protecting against hormone-dependent cancers such as those of the breast, cervix, and prostate. According to the American Cancer Society, diet and lack of adequate exercise are implicated in about one third of all cancer cases among adults.13 Given that more than 1.3 million new cases were expected to be diagnosed in 2005, improved dietary and exercise habits could help prevent more than 400,000 Americans from developing cancer in just one year alone. Colon cancer, for example, is among the cancers believed to be directly inhibited by compounds in cruciferous vegetables. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, more than 100,000 new cases of colon cancer were diagnosed and more than 56,000 Americans died of this dreaded disease. 14 Prostate cancer, which studies show is also thwarted by compounds in cruciferous vegetables,1,2,11,15 is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among US men. More than 200,000 new prostate cancer cases and 30,000 deaths from the disease were expected in 2005. Among women, breast cancer is comparably devastating, with about 212,000 new cases expected in 2005 and more than 40,000 women expected to die of the disease.14 Clearly, there is a need for increased protection against these and other cancers. If cancer-fighting compounds in cruciferous vegetable could have prevented just one third of those breast cancer cases, perhaps 13,000 or more lives could have been saved. Given the status of current research, it is a safe bet that increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables would save lives. Epidemiological evidence suggests that abundant consumption of cruciferous vegetables correlates with lower breast cancer risk. For example, a recent study in China concluded that greater cruciferous vegetable consumption “was associated with significantly reduced breast cancer risk among Chinese women.”16 HEALTH-PROMOTING CHEMICAL CONVERSIONS Not everyone consistently eats the cruciferous vegetables that have been shown to reduce cancer risk. Moreover, there is also natural variability in the anti-cancer phytonutrient content of these vegetables. Scientists have long sought to extract the beneficial compounds of cruciferous vegetables. One group of bioactive nutrients responsible for cancer protection in cruciferous vegetables is known as glucosinolates. When consumed by humans, glucosinolates are converted to highly beneficial compounds including isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane and indoles such as I3C. These compounds are believed to inhibit cancer by various mechanisms within the body.17 The conversion of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates occurs naturally in several ways. One method is through skin following exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight). Vitamin D thus appears to be very important to the body’s innate ability to fight cancer.75,76 To complement vitamin’s D anti-cancer role, a compound derived from the culinary herb rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) acts to enhance vitamin D’s biochemical activity. Carnosic acid and carnosol, found in rosemary, are antioxidant polyphenols that have been shown to aid vitamin D’s efforts to thwart cancer. Rather than killing cancer cells outright as many chemotherapeutic agents do, vitamin D halts cancer by forcing precancerous cells to differentiate or become, in essence, more mature cells.77,78 Because cancer is characterized by less mature cells, a process that compels these cells to become more mature is beneficial to fighting cancer. Scientists therefore are keenly interested in using supplemental vitamin D for differentiation therapy to prevent and possibly treat cancer. Beyond this promising partnership with natural vitamin D, researchers have identified other mechanisms by which carnosic acid and carnosol work to protect and enhance the immune system.79 These powerful natural antioxidants exhibit antibacterial activity, even against problematic bacteria that have developed resistance to standard antibiotics.80 Carnosol has demonstrated activity against the HIV virus, at concentrations that were not harmful to healthy cells.81 Much like I3C and DIM, rosemary compounds have also been shown to reduce the carcinogenic potential of natural estrogens by enhancing their metabolism in the liver. When treated with a diet containing 2% rosemary for three weeks, female mice increased their beneficial 2-hydroxylation of estrogens by approximately 150% while inhibiting the detrimental 16-alpha-hydroxylation of estradiol by approximately 50%.82 Glucosinolates and their derivatives from cruciferous vegetables, along with the powerful cancer-fighting compound carnosic acid from rosemary, have thus been shown to be powerful weapons in the battle against cancer. References 1. Aggarwal BB, Ichikawa H. Molecular targets and anticancer potential of indole-3-carbinol and its derivatives. Cell Cycle. 2005 Sep;4(9):1201-15. 2. Sarkar FH, Li Y. Indole-3-carbinol and prostate cancer. J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12 Suppl):3493S-8S. 3. Plate AY, Gallaher DD. Effects of indole-3-carbinol and phenethyl isothiocyanate on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane in rats. Carcinogenesis. 2005 Aug 19. 4. Bonnesen C, Eggleston IM, Hayes JD. 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Dietary administration of an extract from rosemary leaves enhances the liver microsomal metabolism of endogenous estrogens and decreases their uterotropic action in CD-1 mice. Carcinogenesis. 1998 Oct;19 (10):1821-7.Chem Toxicol. 1996 May;34(5):449-56. 82. Zhu BT, Loder DP, Cai MX, et al. Dietary administration of an extract from rosemary leaves enhances the liver microsomal metabolism of endogenous estrogens and decreases their uterotropic action in CD-1 mice. Carcinogenesis. 1998 Oct;19 (10):1821-7. All Contents Copyright © 1995-2009 Life Extension Foundation All rights reserved. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 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