Overview
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 ?
Uses & Effectiveness ?
Insufficient Evidence for
- Abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix (cervical dysplasia). Early research shows that taking indole-3-carbinol by mouth helps treat cervical dysplasia.
- Nonmelanoma skin cancer. Some women develop lesions on the vulva that can lead to skin cancer. Early research shows that taking indole-3-carbinol by mouth might reduce the size of these lesions and improve symptoms in some women with this condition.
- Ovarian cancer. Early research shows that taking indole-3-carbinol along with standard chemotherapy and surgery allows women with ovarian cancer to live longer, and increases the time that they stay cancer-free.
- Small, wart-like growths caused by HPV that usually affect the voice box (recurrent respiratory papillomatosis). There is some evidence that long-term use of indole-3-carbinol might reduce the wart-like growths in people with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
- An autoimmune disease that causes widespread swelling (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE). Early research shows that taking indole-3-carbinol by mouth does not improve symptoms of SLE.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Preventing breast cancer, colon cancer, and other types of cancer.
- Liver damage caused by chemicals.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects
In higher doses, indole-3-carbinol can cause balance problems, tremor, and nausea.
Special Precautions and Warnings
In higher doses, indole-3-carbinol can cause balance problems, tremor, and nausea. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if indole-3-carbinol is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Indole-3-carbinol is POSSIBLY SAFE for children when taken by mouth as a medicine under proper medical supervision. Doses of 6-17 mg/kg body weight have been safely used in children and teenagers for 12-76 months.
Bleeding conditions: Indole-3-carbinol might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking indole-3-carbinol might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
Surgery: Indole-3-carbinol might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking indole-3-carbinol might cause bleeding complications during surgery. Stop taking indole-3-carbinol at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Interactions ?
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with INDOLE-3-CARBINOL
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Indole-3-carbinol might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking indole-3-carbinol along with some medications that are changed by the liver can decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking indole-3-carbinol, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.Estrogens interacts with INDOLE-3-CARBINOL
Indole-3-carbinol might interfere with the effects of estrogen therapy.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with INDOLE-3-CARBINOL
Indole-3-carbinol might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking indole-3-carbinol along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Dosing
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