Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. Although there has been progress in cancer treatment, breast cancer remains a challenge. Women that carry a BRCA mutation are at an increased risk of breast cancer and there is no consensus regarding a safe and effective chemoprevention strategy.
3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM), a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to potentially prevent carcinogenesis and tumor growth. Estrogen metabolism plays a causative role in breast cancer and DIM supplementation has been shown to improve estrogen metabolism by increasing the 2-hydroxyestrogen (2OHE) to 16a-Hydroxyestrone (16OHE) ratio.
According to a recent study published in Carcinogenesis, researchers investigated the effect of DIM supplementation on breast density, a predictive factor in breast cancer risk, in healthy BRCA carriers. This is the first study to examine the impact of DIM supplementation on the amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on breast MRI in BRCAcarriers.
This prospective single-arm study included 23 healthy females who carry a BRCA mutation. Eighteen women carried the BRAC1 mutation and 5 women has the BRAC2 mutation. Seventy-eight percent of the women were postmenopausal with an average age of forty-seven. Each participant consumed 100 mg of DFH’s DIM Evail once daily for one year. Assessments included the amount FGT and BPE on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and at the end of the study. In addition, urinary estrogen metabolism and a serum hormone profile including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. MRI scans of the matched untreated women attending the clinic were evaluated for the same primary endpoints. The results were scored using the Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADS).
As a result, supplementation with DIM Evail for one year showed a decrease in the average score for the amount of fibroglandular tissue. There were no significant changes in BPE. In addition, mean estradiol and testosterone levels decreased. Matched untreated women attending the clinic did not show any significant changes in FGT or BPE.
This study demonstrated that supplementation with DIM Evail for one year in BRCA carriers was associated with a significant decrease in the amount of fibroglandular tissue on MRI and decrease in the average BI-RADS score. Other nutrients to consider include delta and gamma tocotrienols, fish oil, curcumin, and resveratrol.
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