The DIM Supplement and Wound Healing
Forgive me for introducing a topic to this Forum that is slightly off the topic on anti-aging. The supplement DIM (3, 3,-diindolylmethane) sold by Swanson ($8.25 for 30 x 100 mg capsules) is a cabbage-derived antioxidant to be taken orally for promoting hormone balance, estrogen metabolism in women, and prostate health in men. However, recent publications (LINK, LINK) report that DIM has previously unknown and amazing healing properties in treating wounds. It acts by suppressing bacterial bio-film formation, depriving a potential bacterial infection of a foothold. One study conducted with pigs showed that wounds that healed in 6 days when treated with standard antibiotics healed in only 3 days when treated with an ointment compounded from DIM. And antibiotic-resistant bacteria are suppressed along with the others.
To test this idea, a couple of weeks ago I ordered a bottle of DIM Complex from Swanson and put it in our medicine cabinet. Last week, I received a 1/2" cut on the back of my left hand after colliding it with a sharp edge of my office computer, and it was bleeding a bit. I cleaned the wound, got out a DIM capsule, twisted it open, applied some of the DIM powder directly to the cut, and put a band-aid over it. The next day the cut was essentially healed, with only a small linear scab along the cut line. From this experience, I’m convinced enough of DIM’s healing power to report it here.
Sprinkling the powder directly on the wound worked fine, but opening a capsule when in need is slightly awkward. It would be better to have a DIM-based ointment or a DIM liquid in a dropper bottle. I note that DIM is not soluble in water, but it is supposed to dissolve well in ethyl alcohol. Therefore, it seems clear that dissolving DIM in ethanol and using that to prepare drops or an ointment would be the way to go. Any entrepreneurs out there who would like to make a buck by bringing a DIM-based wound healer to the market? I'd buy it.
-
That's interesting. Thanks for the tip.
-
Great find! I have a lot of DIM leftover after I stopped taking it for prostate health due to its inducing CYP3A4.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25542144/
"Together, these results support our conclusion that DIM induces hPXR-regulated CYP3A4 and MDR1 gene expression.
-
chuck stanley I am admittedly not the smartest guy in the group. If you have time please explain this in simple terms for me. I have limited time for research. Thanks.
-
Jay Orman
No problem, I'm not either. We're all here to learn from what others have learned.
CYP3A4 is an important enzyme found mainly in the intestine and liver. It oxidizes foreign molecules such as toxins or drugs so they can be removed from the body. One such drug that it metabolizes is rapamycin.
DIM activates CYP3A4 thus resulting in less rapamycin getting into the system. Grapefruit juice, on the other hand, inhibits it, resulting in more rapamycin getting absorbed.
-
chuck stanley I've come back to this topic again because I'm going to try DIM (Thorne brand with DIM plus pomegranite extract & broccoli extract) for a month to see if I get any benefit from it. It may interfere with my sirolimus, but I'll cross that bridge if necessary at a later point.
-
-
I dont remember the half life of DIM, probably will be fine as long as they are a few days apart would be my guess. And of course it also interacts with statins.
