DIM Benefits for Males
Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.
DIM or diindolylmethane not only works wonders for women but also for men to maintain a healthy hormonal balance by lowering the “bad” or less desirable estrogen metabolites and supporting the “good” or desirable estrogen metabolites in the body. When we talk about estrogen balance we generally think of females, but it is as important for males as it is for females. However, researchers are still working to understand further DIM benefits for males.
Here we’ll discuss the benefits of DIM for males in a little bit of detail including what DIM actually is, why males need DIM, and what benefits DIM produces for men's health along with how to use it and possible side effects. So, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the benefits of DIM for men.
Table of contents
- What is DIM?
- Why males need DIM
- DIM benefits for males
- How to use DIM
- Precautions and side effects
- Final words
What is DIM?
DIM is the abbreviated form of diindolylmethane which is a naturally occurring plant compound found in cruciferous vegetables. It is produced by the breakdown of indole 3 carbinol found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, as well as others.
Cruciferous vegetables have been found to be highly useful in supporting healthy immune responses and natural cell regeneration, particularly in the breast and prostate. DIM and indole 3 carbinol are assumed to have a significant role in these protective biological processes in the body.
Why males need DIM
Most people think that estrogen is only a female hormone, but in reality, it is not. Some of the testosterone found in males may convert into estrogen and then be metabolized by the liver. Certain kinds of estrogen may increase the risk of developing hormonal imbalances as well as various health issues such as cancer, as they can in females.
DIM acts as an inhibitor to aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. DIM has a miraculous ability to slow down the conversion of testosterone into estrogen and thus can help maintain a healthy estrogen level. It supports the production of “good” estrogen called 2-hydroxyestrone and reduces the harmful effects of “bad” estrogen called 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone. Estrogen imbalance in males has been linked to various health problems related to fertility, sexual health, breast growth, and even certain types of cancer.
DIM benefits for males
While DIM offers its hormone-balancing and weight management benefits for both males as well as females, there are two additional benefits that it offers specifically to males - testosterone support and prostate protection. Let’s take a look at these specific DIM benefits for males a little bit deeper one by one.
Testosterone support
Testosterone plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy male hormonal balance and DIM can hugely support and optimize its effects on men's bodies. It is considered an androgen that plays a key role in regulating and dominating various male characteristics in the body ranging from male genital development to body hair distribution to the development of a deeper voice. It is also a key contributor to the control of mood and sex drive.
DIM has an incredible capacity to release bound testosterone and thus can support maintaining good testosterone levels in the body, making it highly beneficial for supporting male hormonal function that impacts physical, mental, and sexual performance in males.
Prostate protection
One of the most prevalent DIM benefits of males is that it has a miraculous ability to support healthy cell regeneration within the prostate that promotes normal-sized prostates. Studies suggest that unmetabolized estrogen might accumulate in the prostate and may increase the risk of increased prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA levels) which are used to screen for prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.
DIM can support the production of “good” estrogen metabolites that can resist the formation of PSAs and thus plays an important role in promoting healthy prostate in males. Furthermore, DIM helps in balancing estrogen-testosterone levels in the body, which is vital for promoting urinary tract health and preventing bladder control issues, particularly at nighttime.
How to use DIM
Though cruciferous vegetables are the main source of DIM, it needs a lot of servings to reach the required amounts of DIM per day. For this reason, DIM supplements could be the best option to get this important plant indole especially for people who do not love too many vegetables in their diets.
However, in general, the doses of DIM supplements for males may range from 200 mg to 400 mg per day. But it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to determine your best dose and safety prior to using any supplements.
Precautions and side effects
Though DIM supplements for males are possibly safe in most cases, mild side effects may occur in some people. Common side effects of DIM supplements may include gas, headaches, smelly urine, darkening of urine, and increased bowel movements. But these side effects are not common for all.
Besides, DIM supplements may interact with certain prescription medications and affect their effectiveness in the body. Therefore, we don’t encourage you to use DIM on your own, rather consult with a qualified natural medicine professional prior to using DIM supplements especially if you are taking medications for any underlying health condition or have had a previous experience of problems with hormone therapies.
Final words
Estrogen is not such a hormone that can only affect hormonal balances in females but also may affect the hormonal balance in males, leading to various male issues related to prostate, urinary tract, and bladder. DIM offers certain promising benefits for males ranging from maintaining a healthy hormonal balance to protecting the prostate from developing protein-specific antigens (PSAs) to preventing urinary tract and bladder control issues.
Since DIM supplements may interact with other medications and produce some side effects, it’s always recommended to consult with a qualified natural medicine practitioner before starting DIM supplements for males.
Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural DIM 200 mg Vegan Capsules.
Important resources:
- https://denvervein.com/the-benefits-of-dim-supplements-for-men/#:~:text=DIM%20can%20assist%20your%20body,is%20also%20an%20anabolic%20hormone.
- https://natural-fertility-info.com/dim-for-male-fertility.html
- https://blog.davincilabs.com/blog/dim-benefits-for-men
- https://www.bostontestosterone.com/blog/2016/07/facts-about-dim-and-mens-health/
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-dim