“Q:  How does DIM benefit testosterone activity?”

 “Testosterone is also identified as an anabolic hormone due to its ability to promote protein synthesis.  Active protein synthesis produces bigger muscles and stronger bones, especially in response to exercise.  This process also increases metabolic rate and consumes fat, resulting in a leaner physique. The ‘good’ estrogen metabolites along with increased free testosterone promoted by DIM increase fat mobilization and a fat-burning metabolism.”

“Q: DIM for Women—How does it achieve optimal estrogen metabolism?:

“Breast tenderness, endometriosis, and uterine cervical dysplasia have been shown to improve with DIM supplementation. The use of both DIM and progesterone is recommended for women in their forties who have evidence of progesterone deficiency, such as irregular menstrual periods.  DIM can help support natural progesterone production.”

“Q:  Can DIM supplementation make hormone replacement therapy (HRT) safer?”

“The proven scientific benefits of DIM make it a logical choice as a dietary supplement for use with HRT.”

“Q:  Is testosterone really important in women’s health?”

 “While the exact contribution of testosterone to mood and sexual health has been more difficult to define in women who have intact ovaries, it has been shown that testosterone supports physiologic responses in sexual arousal.  In studies of mood and depression, testosterone alone or with estrogen was most effective in reducing depression.”

 “Q:  How does DIM “unlock” testosterone? in women”

 “DIM promotes a consistent rise in the levels of ‘good’ estrogen metabolites.  Even a small increase in the concentration of ‘good’ estrogen metabolites results in higher levels of free testosterone.  Even tiny increases in amounts of free testosterone are capable of influencing mood and behavior since the brain  possesses a multitude of hormone receptors that can be influenced by testosterone.”

 “Q:  Does DIM make DHEA a safer supplement?”

 “DIM’s action ensures that the estrogen produced from DHEA is metabolised into ‘good’ estrogen metabolites.”

“Q:  DIM for Men—Activating Testosterone?”:

“DIM helps to eliminate active estrogen from the male body by promoting its conversion into the ‘good’ estrogen metabolites.  These metabolites then free up testosterone by bumping it off the testosterone-binding proteins.”

“Q:  Why is optimum hormone balance so important for men?”

 “Optimum hormone balance for men is defined by strong testosterone activity and the lowest possible level of unmetabolised estrogen.”

“Q:  What role does supplemental DIM play in an aging-intervention plan for men?”

“Supplemental DIM reduces the effects of unmetabolised estrogen and promotes testosterone action.  It does this by maximizing the testosterone-to-estrogen ratio in the body, thus increasing the activity of testosterone. DIM can improve mood, fight depression, and support memory. DIM also can be used to help address many of the unwanted side effects of estrogen in men—particularly those that occur with the age-related accumulation of estrogen. DIM can now be used to reduce the risk of prostate enlargement and promote a healthy prostate.  Optimum testosterone-to-estrogen hormonal balance achieved with the use of DIM can help to preserve a youthful urinary tract and prevent age-related prostate enlargement.”

“Q:  Why is DIM in demand by elite male athletes?”

“DIM supplementation is the key to eliminating unwanted estrogen in men.  For athletes, this means increasing the metabolism of estrogen that is naturally present as well as any estrogen that arises from the use of testosterone prohormone supplements. With DIM use, you should see rapid muscle-building results from your training as well as more efficient reduction in body fat.”

“Q:  What is the best way to combine supplemental DIM with a plan to build muscle?”

“DIM promotes an upward shift in the body’s critical balance between testosterone and estrogen levels. In scientific studies, high testosterone-to-estrogen ratios have been linked to lean body mass, a fat-burning metabolism, and low abdominal obesity.”

“Q:  Can DIM alone benefit strength training without the additional use of testosterone prohormones?”

“DIM provides benefits to male and female athletes, since its estrogen-clearing action occurs whether or not there is increased estrogen production as seen with prohormone use. DIM, by helping to convert estrogen to ‘good’ estrogen metabolites, protects stressed muscle cells and allows more efficient repair and growth.”

“Q:  How does better estrogen metabolism results in improved fat metabolism?”

“DIM reduces the levels of estradiol, or active estrogen, by promoting its conversion into ‘good’ estrogen metabolites.  These ‘good’ estrogen metabolites are fat burners. When DIM is used, a second important fat-burning shift in metabolism also occurs—an increase in free testosterone and, consequently, an increase in the testosterone-to-estrogen ratio.”

“Q:  Can DIM supplements help me lose weight without a strict diet and regular exercise?”

 “DIM is not a ‘magic bullet’ that cancels out dietary and lifestyle indiscretion.  The key to fat loss with DIM is carbohydrate restriction and an emphasis on aerobic exercise.  When using DIM to assist fat loss, the preferred diet limits carbohydrate intake to low-glycemic foods, including broccoli, celery, green beans, zucchini, and salad greens.  These produce the smallest increase in blood sugar levels. . . .  Along with DIM supplements, an exercise routine that includes long aerobic workouts will put you solidly in a fat-burning mode and step up your metabolic rate.  With DIM, you will increase the release of stored fatty acids and speed up your fat loss. The goal of fat loss with DIM is to preserve muscle mass while reducing body fat with a healthy but carbohydrate-restricted diet.”

“Q:  Are DIM supplements safe?”

“The earlier research on these phytochemicals as a cancer preventive in animals used huge amounts of DIM for many months.  Despite the continuous use of these phytochemicals in multiple generations of animals, no safety problems were noted.  Recently, DIM was again shown to be safe when it was used successfully to treat chemically induced breast cancer.  As with all fat-soluble nutrients, taking DIM with a light meal encourages absorption even more because this group of nutrients requires the activation of bile secretion from the liver to promote absorption.”

 “Q:  What about the other cruciferous indole, indole-3-carbinol (I3C)?”

 Though used by some people as a dietary supplement, it turns out the I3C is not active in your body until it is converted into DIM.  DIM is formed as I3C combines with itself, that is two molecules of I3C combine to form DIM (a chemical process called dimerisation). This occurs only if just the right amount of stomach acid is present. The usual dose of DIM for women is 100 to 200 mg per day taken with food.  Women using DIM to help with weight loss have used up to 400 mg per day to achieve the greatest support for the burning of stored fat. DIM at 400 mg per day can be of benefit during the first one or two months of weight loss, especially in association with carbohydrate restriction and exercise. The usual dose range of DIM for men is 200 to 400 mg per day taken with food. For men involved in a plan of muscular development or fat loss, the dose of DIM should be increased to 400 to 500 mg per day.”

“Q:  Are there any reported side effects associated with supplemental DIM?”

“Some people taking DIM have noticed a darkening of their urine to a brownish color.  This has been seen when DIM is taken by someone who drinks little water throughout the day.  This is a  normal, harmless occurrence and is not associated with any abnormalities in kidney function or health status.”