INDOLE-3-CARBINOL: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Indole-3-carbinol is formed from a substance called glucobrassicin found in vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, turnips, and rutabagas. Indole-3-carbinol is formed when these vegetables are cut, chewed or cooked. It can also be produced in the laboratory.

People use indole-3-carbinol for cancer prevention, to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

There is interest in indole-3-carbinol for cancer prevention, particularly breast, cervical, and colon cancer, because diets with higher amounts of fruits and vegetables are linked to a decreased risk of these cancers. Indole-3-carbinol is present in several vegetables and might help protect against cancer.

View References

REFERENCES:

Kim, Y. S. and Milner, J. A. Targets for indole-3-carbinol in cancer prevention. J.Nutr.Biochem. 2005;16(2):65-73. View abstract.

Rogan, E. G. The natural chemopreventive compound indole-3-carbinol: state of the science. In Vivo 2006;20(2):221-228. View abstract.

Anon. Broccoli compound inhibits HSV. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2003;17:609. View abstract.

Anon. Indole-3-carbinol. Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review 2005;10(4):337-42. View abstract.

Bailey GS, Dashwood RH, Fong AT, et al. Modulation of mycotoxin and nitrosamine carcinogenesis by indole-3-carbinol: quantitative analysis of inhibition versus promotion. IARC Sci Publ 1991;105:275-80. View abstract.

Balk JL. Indole-3-carbinol for cancer prevention. Altern Med Alert 2000; 3:105-7.

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. View abstract.

Bradlow HL, Michnovicz J, Telang NT, Osborne MP. Effects of dietary indole-3-carbinol on estradiol metabolism and spontaneous mammary tumors in mice. Carcinogenesis 1991;12:1571-4. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Telang NT, Osborne MP. Multifunctional aspects of the action of indole-3-carbinol as an antitumor agent. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1999;889:204-13. View abstract.

Bradlow HL. Indole-3-carbinol as a chemoprotective agent in breast and prostate cancer. In Vivo 2008;22(4):441-5. View abstract.

Dashwood RH. Indole-3-carbinol: anticarcinogen or tumor promoter in brassica vegetables? Chem Biol Interact 1998;110:1-5. View abstract.

de Moura NA, Caetano BFR, de Moraes LN, Carvalho RF, Rodrigues MAM, Barbisan LF. Enhancement of colon carcinogenesis by the combination of indole-3 carbinol and synbiotics in hemin-fed rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2018;112:11-18. View abstract.

Exon JH, South EH. Dietary indole-3-carbinol alters immune functions in rats. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2000;59:271-9. View abstract.

Gao X, Petroff BK, Oluola O, et al. Endocrine disruption by indole-3-carbinol and tamoxifen: blockage of ovulation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2002;183:179-88. View abstract.

Grubbs CJ, Steele VE, Casebolt T, et al. Chemoprevention of chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis by indole-3-carbinol. Anticancer Res 1995;15:709-16. View abstract.

He YH, Friesen MD, Ruch RJ, Schut HA. Indole-3-carbinol as a chemopreventive agent in 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) carcinogenesis: inhibition of PhIP-DNA adduct formation, acceleration of PhIP metabolism, and induction of cytochrome P450 in female F344 rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2000;38:15-23. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Kim DJ, Han BS, Ahn B, et al. Enhancement by indole-3-carbinol of liver and thyroid gland neoplastic development in a rat medium-term multiorgan carcinogenesis model. Carcinogenesis 1997;18:377-81. View abstract.

Kiselev VI, Ashrafyan LA, Muyzhnek EL, et al. A new promising way of maintenance therapy in advanced ovarian cancer: a comparative clinical study. BMC Cancer. 2018;18(1):904. View abstract.

Kojima T, Tanaka T, Mori H. Chemoprevention of spontaneous endometrial cancer in female Donryu rats by dietary indole-3-carbinol. Cancer Res 1994;54:1446-9. View abstract.

Lee YR, Chen M, Lee JD, et al. Reactivation of PTEN tumor suppressor for cancer treatment through inhibition of a MYC-WWP1 inhibitory pathway. Science 2019 May 17;364(6441). pii: eaau0159. doi: 10.1126/science.aau0159. View abstract.

McAlindon TE, Gulin J, Chen T, et al. Indole-3-carbinol in women with SLE: effect on estrogen metabolism and disease activity. Lupus 2001;10:779-83. View abstract.

McDanell R, McLean AEM. Chemical and biological properties of indole glucosinolates (glucobrassicins): a review. Food Chem Toxicol 1988;26(1):59-70. View abstract.

Michnovicz JJ, Bradlow HL. Induction of estradiol metabolism by dietary indole-3-carbinol in humans. J Natl Cancer Inst 1990;82:947-9. View abstract.

Michnovicz JJ. Increased estrogen 2-hydroxylation in obese women using oral indole-3-carbinol. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998;22:227-9. View abstract.

Naik R, Nixon S, Lopes A, et al. A randomized phase II trial of indole-3-carbinol in the treatment of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006;16:786-90. View abstract.

Natl Inst Health, Natl Inst Environmental Health Sci. Indole-3-carbinol. Available at: https://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov.

Paliwal P, Chauhan G, Gautam D, Dash D, Patne SCU, Krishnamurthy S. Indole-3-carbinol improves neurobehavioral symptoms in a cerebral ischemic stroke model. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2018;391(6):613-625. View abstract.

Pence BC, Buddingh F, Yang SP. Multiple dietary factors in the enhancement of dimethylhydrazine carcinogenesis: main effect of indole-3-carbinol. J Natl Cancer Inst 1986;77:269-76. View abstract.

Reed GA, Peterson KS, Smith HJ, et al. A phase I study of indole-3-carbinol in women: tolerability and effects. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14:1953-60. View abstract.

Rosen CA, Bryson PC. Indole-3-carbinol for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: long-term results. J Voice 2004;18:248-53. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Srivastava B, Shukla Y. Antitumour promoting activity of indole-3-carbinol in mouse skin carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett 1998;134:91-5. View abstract.

Telang NT, Katdare M, Bradlow HL, et al. Inhibition of proliferation and modulation of estradiol metabolism: novel mechanisms for breast cancer prevention by the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1997;216:246-52. View abstract.

Tutelyan VA, Trusov NV, Guseva GV, et al. Indole-3-carbinol induction of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A1 activity and gene expression in rat liver under conditions of different fat content in the diet. Bull Exp Biol Med 2012;154(2):250-4. View abstract.

Weng JR; Tsai CH; Kulp SK; Chen CS. Indole-3-carbinol as a chemopreventive and anti-cancer agent. Cancer Letters 2008;262(2):153-63. View abstract.

Wong GY, Bradlow L, Sepkovic D, et al. Dose-ranging study of indole-3-carbinol for breast cancer prevention. J Cell Biochem Suppl 1997;28-29:111-6. View abstract.

Yu L, Gao B, Li Y, Wang TTY, Luo Y, Wang J, Yu LL. Home food preparation techniques impacted the availability of natural antioxidants and bioactivities in kale and broccoli. Food Funct. 2018;9(1):585-593. View abstract.

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;19:1673-80. View abstract.

Test Your Knowledge of Vitamins

Chronic Conditions Common in Minorities

Think You Have a Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Navigating Life With Migraine

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS CENTER

DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS CENTER

FIRST AID RESOURCES

RELATED TO VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

INDOLE-3-CARBINOL

Overview

How does it work ?

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with INDOLE-3-CARBINOL

Dosing

You Might Also Like

WebMD Special Sections

Health Solutions

More from WebMD