Changes in levels of urinary estrogen metabolites after oral indole-3-carbinol treatment in humans

Background: The oxidative metabolism of estrogens in humans is mediated primarily by cytochrome P450, many isoenzymes of which are inducible by dietary and pharmacologic agents, One major pathway, 2-hydroxylation, is induced by dietary indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which is present in cruciferous vegetables (e.g., cabbage and broccoli). Purpose: Because the pool of available estrogen substrates for all pathways is limited, me hypothesized that increased 2-hydroxylation of estrogens mould lead to decreased activity in competing metabolic pathways, Methods: Urine samples were collected from subjects before and after oral ingestion of I3C (6-7 mg/kg per day), In the first study, seven men received I3C for 1 week; in the second study, 10 women received I3C for 2 months, A profile of 13 estrogens was measured in each sample by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Results: In both men and women, I3C significantly increased the urinary excretion of C-2 estrogens, The urinary concentrations of nearly all other estrogen metabolites, including levels of estradiol, estrone, estriol, and 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone, were lower after I3C treatment, Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that I3C-induced estrogen 2-hydroxylation results in decreased concentrations of several metabolites known to activate the estrogen receptor, This effect may lower estrogenic stimulation in women, Implications: I3C may have chemopreventive activity against breast cancer in humans, although the long-term effects of higher catechol estrogen levels in women require further investigation.