DIM Supplements: Benefits, Side Effects, And Dosage - Healthline

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Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Kelli McGrane, MS, RD — Updated on November 3, 2025

Basics
Uses & benefits
Side effects
Dosage
Bottom line

Diindolylmethane supplements may offer health benefits, including a reduced risk of certain types of cancer and support for weight loss. However, more studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a compound created when you digest cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts.

Research suggests that DIM affects estrogen levels in your body. As a result, DIM supplements have been gaining popularity as a potential treatment for a variety of hormone-related conditions, including acne, menopause symptoms, prostate issues, and certain forms of cancer.

Still, you may wonder whether these uses are backed by scientific evidence.

Here is a comprehensive overview of DIM supplements, including their benefits and side effects.

What are DIM supplements?

When you eat cruciferous vegetables, your stomach acid breaks down a compound called indole-3-carbinol to produce a new compound called DIM.

Some studies have linked high intake of cruciferous vegetables to a reduced risk of certain cancers, including gastrointestinal cancer. While the exact mechanism is unknown, indole-3-carbinol is thought to be partly responsible.

Although research on DIM is still quite limited, it’s thought to help balance estrogen levels in your body.

Specifically, DIM may stimulate the production of a less potent, more beneficial form of estrogen known as 2-hydroxyestrone.

While cruciferous vegetables are the primary food source of DIM, you would need to eat several servings every day to reap this compound’s benefits.

As a result, people looking to treat a specific condition like acne or prostate issues may seek a concentrated dose in the form of a DIM supplement.

Uses and potential benefits of DIM supplements

DIM supplements are being studied for their protective effects against certain cancers. They’re also used to help prevent prostate enlargement and reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause symptoms.

While these benefits are promising, overall research on DIM’s effectiveness and long-term safety in humans is limited.

May have anticancer effects

Studies suggest that DIM supplements may help prevent the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. However, human studies are limited.

An older 2017 study gave 130 people with breast cancer on tamoxifen therapy either a placebo or 150 mg of DIM twice a day. DIM supplements resulted in a significantly improved ratio of two types of estrogen — 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-hydrozyestrone.

Although research is ongoing, increasing the ratio of 2-hydrozyestrone to 16-hydrozyesterone may reduce breast cancer risk and cause anti-tumor effects.

May boost weight loss

Given that estrogen plays an important role in regulating fat accumulation, DIM supplements may aid weight loss — although no human research currently supports this effect.

All the same, studies link an imbalance of estrogen — either too much or too little — to an increased risk of weight gain, which means DIM supplements may stimulate fat breakdown.

Keep in mind that further studies are still needed.

Potential side effects and precautions

Due to a lack of research in humans, little is known about the long-term safety and side effects of DIM supplements.

Current human research doesn’t show DIM supplements to be toxic or have serious side effects. The most common side effects include:

darkening of the urine
increase in bowel movements
headaches
gas

Less common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As DIM supplements interact with estrogen levels, they may affect people with hormone-sensitive cancers or who are on hormone therapies. These individuals should avoid DIM supplements unless under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

No matter your medical history, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before taking these supplements.

How much DIM should you take?

Although DIM supplements are generally considered safe, insufficient research has been conducted to establish dosage recommendations. You’re generally advised not to exceed the dosage listed on supplement packaging.

You can consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dosage recommendations tailored to your intended use.

The bottom line

DIM is a compound your body creates when you eat cruciferous vegetables. It’s also concentrated and sold as a supplement.

As it affects estrogen levels, DIM may help treat a variety of conditions, including hormone-sensitive cancers and prostate issues.

Nonetheless, further studies are needed — particularly for uses related to weight loss and PMS symptoms, which aren’t currently backed by human research.

It’s important that you talk with a healthcare professional before taking DIM supplements

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Maier MLV, et al. (2021). 3,3′-diindolylmethane exhibits significant metabolism after oral dosing in humans.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8407664/
Pence ST, et al. (2022). The serious side of supplements: An ischemic stroke in a healthy 38-year-old female.https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/188/9-10/e3273/6854804
Ren HG, et al. (2024). High intake of cruciferous vegetables reduces the risk of gastrointestinal cancers: results from observational studies.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38051036/
Thomson CA, et al. (2018). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5571834/

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Evidence Based

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Kelli McGrane, MS, RD — Updated on November 3, 2025

DIM Supplements: Benefits, Side Effects, And Dosage - Healthline

What are DIM supplements?

Uses and potential benefits of DIM supplements

May have anticancer effects

May boost weight loss

Potential side effects and precautions

How much DIM should you take?

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

Evidence Based

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