The key difference between dim and indole 3 carbinol is that dim carbinol is relatively stable, whereas indole 3 carbinol is relatively unstable.
The term dim carbinol refers to diindolylmethane carbinol. Indole 3 carbinol is a substance produced from the breakdown of glucosinolate glucobrassicin. Dim carbinol is formed from indole 3 carbinol inside our body. Both compounds come from the same source: glucosinolate. However, they are not the same though they originate from the same source. These two substances are different from each other, mainly in terms of their stability. When taken as dietary supplements, these two substances appear to be similar because the indole 3 carbinol converts rapidly into dim carbinol in the stomach. However, the stability of dim carbinol makes it a preferable supplement over indole 3 carbinol supplement.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dim Carbinol
3. What is Indole 3 Carbinol
4. Similarities – Dim and Indole 3 Carbinol
5. Dim vs Indole 3 Carbinol in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Dim vs Indole 3 Carbinol
What is Dim Carbinol?
The term dim carbinol refers to diindolylmethane carbinol. We can observe this substance forming spontaneously from indole 3 carbinol during cell culture experiments. Therefore, dim carbine is a metabolic byproduct of indole 3 carbinol. It is a substance that we can find in vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and other vegetables in the Brassicaceae family.
Apparently, supplements of dim carbinol can help adjust the hormone estrogen level. There are few clinical trials regarding this matter, and these research studies show that these supplements can support healthy estrogen levels by lowering the risk of certain cancers and diseases such as lupus that are attached to the estrogen level.
What is Indole 3 Carbinol?
Indole 3 carbinol is a substance produced from the breakdown of glucosinolate glucobrassicin. We can find it in high levels in cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, etc. Moreover, it is available as a dietary supplement commercially. Indole 3 carbinol is the subject of many current research studies regarding anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and atherogenic effects.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Indole 3 Carbinol
When isolated, indole 3 carbinol appears as an off-white-colored solid substance. It is partially soluble in cold water. According to current research, indole 3 carbinol can cause proliferation arrest and apoptosis in our melanoma cells. Another important research has discovered that the improvement of lupus-prone mice is due to sequential blocks in the development of B and T cells of those mice.
What are the Similarities Between Dim and Indole 3 Carbinol?
- Both compounds, dim and indole 3 carbinol, come from the same source: glucosinolate.
- Indole 3 carbinol converts into dim carbinol inside our body.
What is the Difference Between Dim and Indole 3 Carbinol?
Both dim carbinol and indole 3 carbinol are available as supplements on the market. Although they have the same source and target the same final outcome, they are different from each other. The key difference between dim and indole 3 carbinol is that dim carbinol is relatively stable, whereas indole 3 carbinol is relatively unstable. Moreover, dim carbinol forms from the indole 3 carbinol conversion while indole 3 carbino converts into dim carbinol in the stomach.
The below infographic presents the differences between dim and indole 3 carbinol in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Dim vs Indole 3 Carbinol
In brief, the term dim carbinol refers to diindolylmethane carbinol Indole 3 carbinol is a substance that produces from the breakdown of glucosinolate glucobrassicin. The key difference between dim and indole 3 carbinol is that dim carbinol is relatively stable, whereas indole 3 carbinol is relatively unstable.
Reference:
1. “What Is DIM? Is It The Same As I3C?” Thorne.Com.
2. HL, Bradlow, and Zeligs MA. “Diindolylmethane (DIM) Spontaneously Forms From Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) During Cell Culture Experiments“. Pubmed.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Indole-3-carbinol” By Tomaxer – en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia