DIM vs. Ca - D - Glucarate
Which is better for hormone balance and detoxification?
I never thought I would be putting two supplements into a ring to duke it out and see who comes out the winner, but here I am; let’s see who won!
Let’s first talk about DIM and what it is.
DIM stands for diindolylmethane. It is actually naturally found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collards. When you eat these vegetables they are broken down by the stomach acid into the byproduct of diindolylmethane. Now, I know some are thinking that they would like to use food first as a source of DIM, instead of a supplement. Great! You’ll have to eat 6lbs of cruciferous vegetables a day to get enough. I know that’s a lot right. Or, DIM can be taken as a supplement, and it was found that about 100mg of DIM was the dosage to have an effect on estrogen dominance (2).
Now, why would someone take DIM? Let’s talk about some benefits.
Estrogen dominance can be a problem for men and women leading to many health concerns such as PMS, heavy periods, fibroids, endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause, hair loss, and prostate cancer (for men), and a bigger concern can be the various cancers such as prostate, breast, endometrial, colorectal and pancreatic cancers that rely on estrogen (4). DIM is best known for its healthy estrogen metabolism and its anti-cancer properties. It helps break down estrogen into the good estrogen and not the bad ones. It also helps keep a healthy balance of testosterone and estrogen by preventing some testosterone from actually converting into estrogen (3,4). DIM also stimulates cellular detoxification pathways such as Phase 1 liver detoxification, has anti-inflammatory activity, and stimulates antioxidant response(4).
How do you know if you need DIM?
If you suspect you have any of these problems, we can test your hormones by ordering a DUTCH test. This will not only show us a hormonal imbalance, but it will show us where your metabolism of the hormones is going wrong.
Now let’s talk about Calcium D-glucarate and find out what it is.
Calcium D-glucarate is actually a supplement made by combining both calcium and d-glucaric acid. It then is metabolized in the stomach into calcium and glucaric acid. Again, you can choose food first and eat apples, oranges, and cruciferous vegetables in high amounts or take a supplement. Calcium D-Glucarate is used for supporting the detoxification process by inhibiting beta-glucuonidase, reducing estrogen levels, inhibiting some types of cancer, and helping maintain healthy cholesterol levels (1).
Why would someone take Calcium D-glucarate?
- The main reason to take Calcium D-glucarate is to remove excess estrogen. It also supports liver detoxification, and it has also been shown to reduce inflammation (5).
Winner?
- It ends in a draw ladies and gentlemen! Looks like we need them both! DIM helps phase 1 of liver detoxification, which helps the estrogen get ready for elimination, and calcium d-glucarate helps phase 2 of liver detoxification and eliminates the excess estrogen from the body. So as you can see using both will help optimize hormone regulation.
https://www.premierifm.com/dr-craigs-functional-formula-supplements#!/DIM-3-Supreme/p/157192268
https://www.premierifm.com/dr-craigs-functional-formula-supplements#!/CA-D-Glucarate-Detox-&-Hormone-Support/p/197152398
References
(1) Calcium-D-glucarate. (2002). Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic, 7(4), 336–339.
(2) 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. Nutr Cancer. 2004;50(2):161-7. doi: 10.1207/s15327914nc5002_5. PMID: 15623462.
(3) Evans J. M. (2008). An integrative approach to fibroids, endometriosis, and breast cancer prevention. Integrative Medicine, 7(5), 28-31.
(4) Zhang, W. W., Feng, Z., & Narod, S. A. (2014). Multiple therapeutic and preventive effects of 3, 3’ -diindolylmethane on cancers including prostate cancer and high grade prostatic interaepithelial neoplasia. Journal of biomedical research, 28(5), 339-348. https://doi.org/10.7555/JBR.28.20140008
(5) Zoltaszek, R., Kowlczyk, P., Kowalczyk, M. C., Hanausek, M., Kilianska, Z. M., Slaga, T. J., & Walaszek, Z. (2011). Dietary D-glucarate effects on the biomarkers of inflammation during early post-initiation stages of benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice. Oncology letters, 2(1), 145-154. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2010.221
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