Diindolylmethane for Cancer

Diindolylmethane (DIM) for Cancer: What It Is and How It May Help

Author

Nancy Hepp, MS

past Lead Researcher

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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS past Lead Researcher

Clinical reviewer

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant

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Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Last update: July 9, 2026

Diindolylmethane (DIM) for cancer: what you need to know

• Your body naturally creates diindolylmethane (DIM) when you digest cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale.
• DIM is also available as a supplement; this review focuses on effects from supplements.
• Early evidence suggests that DIM may improve cancer markers among people with prostate cancer.
• Small studies suggest that DIM may support hormone balance in people with, or at risk of, hormone-sensitive cancers.
• This is not a standalone treatment for cancer; it is a complementary therapy used alongside standard medical care to support treatment and/or well-being.

What is diindolylmethane (DIM)?

Your body naturally creates diindolylmethane (DIM) when you digest cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale. DIM is also available as a nutritional supplement. This review focuses on effects from supplements.

Preliminary evidence shows DIM may improve cancer markers among people with prostate cancer. Small studies found favorable changes in sex hormones among people with, or at risk of, hormone-sensitive cancers treated with DIM. 

Safety

• Supervision by a medical professional is highly recommended
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women, and women planning to get pregnant, should avoid DIM
• Known interactions, consult with your healthcare provider before adding to your regimen

See full safety details, side effects & drug interactions →

How diindolylmethane (DIM) may help people with cancer

Strength of evidence rating

We rate the strength of the evidence with 0=no evidence, 1=weak evidence, 2=modest evidence, and 3=good evidence. Read more about our method in detail here ›

Optimizing your body terrain

Small studies found favorable changes in sex hormones among people with or at risk of hormone-sensitive cancers (breast²Thomson CA, Chow HHS et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2017 Aug;165(1):97-107; Dalessandri KM, Firestone GL, Fitch MD, Bradlow HL, Bjeldanes LF. Pilot study: effect of 3,3′-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Nutrition and Cancer. 2004;50(2):161-7; Yerushalmi R, Bargil S et al. 3,3-Diindolylmethane (DIM): a nutritional intervention and its impact on breast density in healthy BRCA carriers. A prospective clinical trial. Carcinogenesis 2020;41(10):1395-1401. and prostate³Gee JR, Saltzstein DR, Messing E, et al. Phase Ib placebo-controlled, tissue biomarker trial of diindolylmethane (BR-DIMNG) in patients with prostate cancer who are undergoing prostatectomy. European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2016;25(4):312-320.) and in people with thyroid cancer⁴Rajoria S, Suriano R et al. 3,3′-diindolylmethane modulates estrogen metabolism in patients with thyroid proliferative disease: a pilot study. Thyroid. 2011 Mar;21(3):299-304. treated with DIM. Changes in hormone levels seen in the studies here may not be beneficial in every situation. Your oncology team needs to determine whether any changes would be favorable for your condition.

Reducing cancer risk or recurrence

A small study of people with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), which may progress to prostate cancer, found that those treated with a DIM-based formulation had better regression rates and less abnormal biopsy tissues.⁵Paltsev M, Kiselev V et al. First results of the double-blind randomized placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial of DIM-based therapy designed as personalized approach to reverse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). EPMA Journal. 2016;7(1):5. In another small study of patients taking tamoxifen for breast cancer, daily DIM promoted favorable changes in estrogen metabolism and circulating levels of SHBG, shifts associated with lower breast cancer risk.⁶Thomson CA, Chow HHS et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2017 Aug;165(1):97-107. 

There is weak evidence that healthy women with BRCA gene mutations, who are at high risk for developing breast cancer, treated with DIM showed changes in breast density and gene expression associated with lower breast cancer risk.⁷Yerushalmi R, Bargil S et al. 3,3-Diindolylmethane (DIM): a nutritional intervention and its impact on breast density in healthy BRCA carriers. A prospective clinical trial. Carcinogenesis. 2020;41(10):1395-1401; Kotsopoulos J, Zhang S, Akbari M, et al. BRCA1 mRNA levels following a 4-6-week intervention with oral 3,3′-diindolylmethane. British Journal of Cancer. 2014;111(7):1269-1274.

Studies on women with cervical conditions that may progress to cervical cancer showed mixed results: two studies showed no effect from oral DIM treatment,⁸Castañon A, Tristram A et al. Effect of diindolylmethane supplementation on low-grade cervical cytological abnormalities: double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. British Journal of Cancer. 2012 Jan 3;106(1):45-52; Del Priore G, Gudipudi DK et al. Oral diindolylmethane (DIM): pilot evaluation of a nonsurgical treatment for cervical dysplasia. Gynecological Oncology. 2010 Mar;116(3):464-7. while one study showed a higher regression rate for cervical lesions, which may become cancerous, among women using DIM suppositories.⁹Ashrafian L, Sukhikh G et al. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial (phase IIa) on diindolylmethane’s efficacy and safety in the treatment of CIN: implications for cervical cancer prevention. EPMA Journal. 2015 Dec 21;6:25.

See the full evidence summary ›

Affordability and access

Is a prescription required?

• No, but we recommend you consult your oncology team before using DIM 

Where to find it

• Drug stores
• Supplement stores
• Online supplement distributors

Affordability

• Moderate cost (between $12 US and $160 US/month)

Find an integrative provider ›

FAQs

• Can diindolylmethane (DIM) help fight cancer?
  Preliminary evidence shows DIM may improve cancer markers among people with prostate cancer. This suggests, but does not indicate, effects on cancer progression.
• Can DIM help with cancer side effects?
  There are no studies investigating whether DIM can help with cancer side effects.
• Can DIM help reduce risk of cancer or recurrence?
  Research on this is limited and shows mixed results, and no broad conclusions can be drawn about whether DIM helps reduce cancer risk or recurrence.
• Does DIM support immune function in cancer patients?
  There are no studies investigating whether DIM supports immune function in cancer patients.
• Can DIM reduce inflammation in cancer patients?
  There are no studies investigating whether DIM reduces inflammation in cancer patients.

Read more about supplements and therapies

• Sourcing Quality Herbs & Supplements ›
• Supplement and Therapies Database ›

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