DIM
Meaning of DIM: DIM is a compound formed when the body breaks down indole-3-carbinol from cruciferous vegetables and is sold as a dietary supplement.
Definition of DIM
DIM, short for diindolylmethane, is a compound produced in the digestive tract when indole-3-carbinol, a substance found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and kale, is broken down by stomach acid. It is not itself a vitamin or an approved medication but a naturally occurring breakdown product of plant compounds.
DIM is sold as a dietary supplement, typically in capsule form, and has been studied for its effects on how the body metabolizes estrogen, since some research has examined whether shifting this metabolism might influence hormone related processes.
Because DIM is marketed as a supplement rather than an approved drug, it is regulated differently from medication, and claims made about its effects on hormone balance or disease prevention have not been established with the same level of evidence required for a prescription treatment.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient reported taking a DIM supplement in addition to a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables.
Good to know
DIM is a naturally occurring dietary compound rather than an approved medication, a distinction relevant when its supplement marketing is compared with the evidence required to support an actual drug therapy.