Photo by Innerbody Research
Hormone changes can have a major effect on your overall health and well-being. From your mood to your physical health,1 even gradual changes (like the natural decline in bioavailable testosterone as you age) can have a big impact.2 Because of this, many people seek out ways to boost certain hormones or balance them out. One potential solution that’s been growing in popularity over the past few years is diindolylmethane (DIM) supplements.
Found in cruciferous vegetables, DIM is a phytonutrient that has shown promise in boosting estrogen metabolism, improving prostate health, and reducing cancer risk, among other potential benefits.3 But are DIM supplements right for you? In this guide, we'll help answer that question and identify the best options to consider in 2025.
If you’re in a hurry, check out our summary of recommendations below. And for more details, read on to learn how we made our choices.
Among our top picks, Nutricost provides the most meaningful dose, and it does so while avoiding allergens and saving you money.
Nutricost doesn’t contain the most bioactive form of DIM. That distinction goes to other competitors like Puritan’s Pride. But Nutricost costs significantly less than Puritan’s pride, dose for dose, even as its much larger amount of DIM should more than make up for the bioavailability difference. You can buy directly from Nutricost or from the company’s store on Amazon, but Amazon gives you better control over delivery intervals if you subscribe.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
For our guide to the best DIM supplements, our team spent over 80 hours researching the ins and outs of how DIM may benefit a variety of concerns, including menopause symptoms, prostate health, hormone imbalances, and more. In total, we read through 40+ studies, journals, reviews, and other pieces of scientific literature to bring you the most accurate and up-to-date information. Our team also purchased the market’s top DIM supplements in order to relay details that could only be gathered from partaking in the customer experience.
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
When evaluating DIM supplements, we judged them based on four criteria that consumers often care about the most:
Overall, all of our picks performed fairly well in each category. Below, we go into more detail on how each pick fared, including which one took the crown in each criterion.
Winner: Thorne
Since the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements like it does prescription medications, it’s up to supplement manufacturers to ensure their products are safe for consumers.4 This is often done by adhering to current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), subjecting products to independent third-party testing, or obtaining various safety certifications. Here’s how our top picks compare:
Thorne | Nature’s Way | Nature’s Craft | Nutricost | |
---|---|---|---|---|
GMP compliance? | ||||
Third-party testing? | ||||
Other testing | In-house | In-house | N/A | N/A |
Certifications | TGA-certified; NSF-certified | ISO 17025 | ISO 17025 | None |
Major allergens | None | None | Produced in a facility that processes milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish | None |
As you can see, only Thorne checks off all the boxes for safety. Nature’s Way is a close second, but it doesn’t have TGA and NSF certification like Thorne. Nature’s Way does have NSF certification for its GMP compliance, but that’s not the same as the product itself being NSF-certified due to testing.
Winner: Nutricost (with Nature’s Way a close runner-up)
Taking a look at our top picks’ ingredients — particularly the amount of DIM in each — you might be confused as to why Nature’s Way DIM-Plus, the one with the smallest serving of DIM (100mg), could be considered among the most effective. It’s because Nature’s Way is the only one of our picks that uses a highly bioavailable form of DIM called BioResponse DIM, or BR-DIM.
Crystalline DIM tends to exhibit low oral bioavailability, so, as noted in one 2011 study, “in an effort to improve relative bioavailability, most pharmacokinetic studies regarding DIM have been reported using BR-DIM.” The researchers go on to say this form of DIM “exhibits 50% higher bioavailability.”5 Additionally, when human subjects were given the same dose of either BR-DIM or crystalline DIM, the former group had higher levels of DIM in the blood, “along with increased net exposure” to the compound.5
But that isn’t to say that the crystalline DIM found in our other picks isn’t beneficial; if it’s not as bioavailable as the branded BR-DIM, then you’d just need to deliver considerably more of it. And that’s precisely what Nutricost does. Nutricost’s 300mg per serving dwarfs the 100mg offered by Nature’s Way. As a potential bonus, Nutricost (like Nature’s Craft) adds BioPerine — a patented black pepper extract — to its DIM supplements.
An alkaloid in black pepper called piperine has been shown to increase the bioavailability of different drugs and other substances by anywhere from 30% to 200%.6 7 For example, as noted in a 2013 overview of herbal bioavailability enhancers, piperine increased the bioavailability of curcumin “almost ten-fold.”7
However, it’s worth noting that there haven’t been any studies specifically on black pepper extract and DIM together, but that doesn’t mean the black pepper content can’t be beneficial. As explained by Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, a member of our medical review board, "Piperine is best studied to improve the absorption of curcumin and vitamin B6; in addition, piperine itself has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects." So, besides potentially improving the bioavailability of DIM, piperine itself may be able to help with your health concerns in other ways.
In the case of Thorne’s DIM supplement, the actual DIM takes a bit of a backseat to another ingredient, TrueBroc, a patented form of the compound sulforaphane glucosinolate. Sulforaphane glucosinolate’s clinical potential was discovered in 1992 by Johns Hopkins University researchers who found that the broccoli-derived compound appeared to have anticancer potential.8 Since then, it’s been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, along with the potential to alter estrogen metabolism.9 10
So, to sum it up, all of our picks have their own merits. Though Nature’s Way uses a bioavailable and effective form of DIM that’s used in the majority of studies on the compound, Nutricost provides enough of a somewhat less bioavailable form of DIM (and a potential bioavailability enhancer) to ultimately deliver a more potent dose.
Winner: Nutricost DIM Capsules
Often, cost is the deciding factor for people deciding whether or not they’ll buy a supplement — and DIM is no exception. Both Nutricost and Nature’s Craft are our most cost-effective picks, but the former managed to beat the latter due to a couple of factors, which are illustrated in the chart below.
Nutricost | Nature’s Craft | Nature’s Way | Thorne | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Servings per bottle | 30 or 120 | 120 | 30 or 60 | 60 |
Single purchase cost | $10 or $20 | $25 | $27 or $48 | $47 |
Single purchase price per serving | $0.33 or $0.17 | $0.21 | $0.90 or $0.80 | $0.78 |
Subscription discount | 20% | 15% | 15% | 10% |
Subscription cost | $8 or $16 | $21 | $23 or $41 | $42 |
Subscription price per serving | $0.27 or $0.13 | $0.18 | $0.77 or $0.68 | $0.70 |
Money-back guarantee? | Yes; 60 days | No | Yes; 45 days | Yes; 60 days |
As you can see, Nutricost offers the lowest up-front cost option ($10), the lowest cost per serving ($0.17), and the highest subscription discount (20%). All of this, plus the addition of a money-back guarantee, is why we chose Nutricost as our best value pick.
In contrast, Thorne and the 120-count bottle (60-serving) option from Nature’s Way both have fairly high initial costs. This is especially true with Thorne when you consider that there isn’t a cheaper option available like with Nature’s Way. Additionally, Thorne has the lowest subscription discount of the bunch, and — to make matters worse — that discount only kicks in on subsequent shipments, not the initial purchase. Whether you subscribe to Thorne or not, you’ll always have to pay $47 for your first bottle of Hormone Advantage.
Winner: Nature’s Craft DIM For Men
Truly, all of our top DIM supplement picks shouldn’t pose much of an inconvenience for most people. However, Nature’s Craft does a few things differently from the rest:
To be fair, Thorne and Nature’s Way have somewhat flexible subscription plans, and all of our picks have money-back guarantees, but Nature’s Craft simply offers customers a few extra conveniences that set it apart.
The chart below offers a quick reference to how our top DIM picks compare in key ways, such as dosing, price, servings per bottle, and more.
Nature’s Way | Nutricost | Nature’s Craft | Thorne | |
---|---|---|---|---|
DIM per serving | 100mg | 300mg | 200mg | 150mg |
Other key ingredients | Protectamins vegetable blend (spinach, broccoli, cabbage) | BioPerine (black pepper extract) | Panax ginseng, grape seed extract, astragalus root extract, BioPerine | Pomegranate extract, sulforaphane glucosinolate (TrueBroc) |
Single purchase cost | $27 or $48 | $10 or $20 | $25 | $47 |
Servings per bottle | 30 or 60 | 30 or 120 | 120 | 60 |
Single purchase price per serving | $0.90 or $0.80 | $0.33 or $0.17 | $0.21 | $0.78 |
Subscription discount | 15% | 20% | 15% | 10% |
Subscription price | $23 or $41 | $8 or $16 | $21 | $42 |
Subscription cost per serving | $0.77 or $0.68 | $0.27 or $0.13 | $0.18 | $0.70 |
Money-back guarantee? | Yes; 45 days | Yes; 60 days | No | Yes; 60 days |
Free shipping threshold | $35 | $59 | $50 | Ground shipping is free |
DIM is the abbreviation for diindolylmethane (or, to be more specific, 3,3'-diindolylmethane), which is a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and broccoli.3 11 This compound is perhaps most well-known for its antiandrogenic and anticancer potential. As explained by the National Cancer Institute, these effects are due to DIM’s apparent abilities to promote estrogen metabolism and cause apoptosis (cell death) in tumors.3 12
Because of these potential effects, DIM is most often supplemented in an effort to improve the following concerns:
In the next section, we review what the research says about DIM’s ability to help in each of these key areas.
As explained by experts, “DIM alters estrogen metabolism by shifting metabolism from carcinogenic 16α-hydroxy to inert 2-hydroxy derivatives, and it antagonizes estrogen and androgen receptor activity.”13
In layman’s terms, this means that DIM changes how estrogen is processed in the body. Certain estrogen by-products may raise the risk of certain cancers, while others don’t. DIM helps influence estrogen to break down into harmless by-products instead. Additionally, DIM can help balance hormones by attaching to the same receptors that estrogen and testosterone (an androgen) do.
Researchers go on to note that lower concentrations of DIM can help protect cells against oxidative stress — an imbalance of free radicals in the body that can lead to chronic inflammation and many long-term health conditions.13 14
“Chronic inflammation (often from poor nutrition, among other causes) produces reactive oxygen species,” explains Dr. Stanford, “which are unstable molecules that lead to oxidative stress. Over time, oxidative stress can cause significant cellular damage and increase the likelihood of inflammatory-related health conditions, like Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers.”
Below, we break down promising research on how these properties of DIM (estrogen metabolism modulation and protecting cells against oxidative stress) may benefit various health concerns.
DIM appears to have some ability to protect against prostate concerns, specifically prostate cancers. A study from 2016 on 21 human patients diagnosed with a high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a condition associated with higher prostate cancer risk, found that 12 months of treatment with a DIM-based therapy called Infemin yielded “statistically significant” results.15 16 Around half (45.5%) of treated patients experienced “a complete regression of PIN,” while no regression was seen in patients in the placebo group.15
A separate 2016 study on BR-DIM supplementation for prostate cancer patients saw similar success. A group of 28 men with localized prostate cancer were given BR-DIM at a daily dose of 450mg for two weeks. In the end, 93% of patients had detectable prostatic DIM levels, and 71% of patients had declines in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker that is usually elevated in prostate cancer and other prostate conditions.17 18
As we noted above, DIM appears to be able to protect against prostate cancers, but it also has the potential to reduce the risk of other cancers. While more human studies are necessary, researchers note in a 2016 review that the “evidence for a protective role of DIM against breast cancer continues to grow.” The review explains that DIM has “demonstrated chemopreventive activity in all stages of breast cancer carcinogenesis.”19
Some cell and animal studies on DIM for ovarian,20 gastrointestinal,21 and cervical cancer have shown promising results, as well.22 However, high-quality human trials are necessary before we can say anything definite about DIM for these cancers.
By improving estrogen metabolism, DIM may be able to balance out your hormones.23 Vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes and night sweats, are often attributed to changes in gonadal hormones like estrogen.24 And changes in your hormones can also affect your mood.25 All of this is to say that while there aren’t any direct studies on DIM for these common menopause symptoms, it stands to reason that it may be able to help with them.
DIM may also be able to help prevent or reduce menopausal weight gain by suppressing the creation of new fat cells.26 A small 2023 trial on 60 premenopausal women found that, compared to placebo, 300mg of BR-DIM daily led to “a more significant decrease in body fat percentage” after 30 days.27 But, while this evidence is promising, more research is needed to know if DIM could be recommended for menopausal weight management.
There isn’t any direct research available on DIM’s ability to balance hormones in men, but researchers in one review note that DIM may act as an aromatase inhibitor, which means that it could help prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.19 According to experts, aromatase is “the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis,” so DIM may be able to help some men with high estrogen or low testosterone (or both).28
For most healthy adults, DIM should be safe when taken as directed. Most of the studies using DIM report few to no serious adverse effects. For example:
Of course, we don’t recommend taking doses larger than what’s recommended on the Supplement Facts label. And it’s always important to speak with your doctor first before starting a new supplement.
Insider Tip: Because DIM can alter your hormones, it’s best avoided by people who are pregnant or nursing or those who have hormone-sensitive cancers.
Additionally, while serious adverse effects aren’t common, some patients have reported headaches or gastrointestinal upset when taking DIM in doses of 300mg or higher.30
Because of its relatively mild side effects, DIM should be suitable for most healthy adults who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. Of course, it’s recommended you speak with your doctor before starting a new supplement, even if you’re perfectly healthy, just to be safe.
As with most supplements, there are specific people who may benefit most from it. In the case of DIM, this includes:
However, it’s worth noting that the only potential benefits of DIM supported by a decent amount of research are those for prostate health and the risk of certain cancers. Other possible benefits are largely based on animal or cell studies, anecdotal evidence, or assumptions based on how DIM appears to work.
As mentioned earlier in this review, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have hormone-sensitive cancers should steer clear of DIM due to its potential effects on hormone levels. If you fall into any of these categories, then it’s important to speak to your doctor regarding your reasons for wanting to take DIM; they’ll be able to point you in a safe direction.
Best value
Photo by Innerbody Research
Nutricost offers a straightforward, cost-effective DIM supplement. Like Nature’s Craft, the company adds BioPerine, a patented black pepper extract that may be able to improve DIM’s bioavailability.6 There aren’t any studies directly investigating BioPerine’s effects on DIM, but the extract has demonstrated the ability to increase the bioavailability of some substances by up to 200%. When added to curcumin, for example, researchers note that black pepper increased its bioavailability “almost ten-fold.”7
Nutricost’s supplement contains 300mg of DIM per serving, more than any of our other top picks. It’s three times the amount included in the Nature’s Way DIM-Plus supplement, which is important since research indicates that Nutricost’s form of DIM is only two-thirds as bioavailable as the branded form found in Nature’s Way (BR-DIM). At three times the amount, but with 67% of the bioavailability, Nutricost is positioned to be slightly more potent, and its cost per serving is half the cost of Nature’s Way. However, to secure free shipping, you’ll need to include additional products in your order to reach the $59 threshold.
Photo by Innerbody Research
On the subject of manufacturing, Nutricost’s supplements are made in GMP-compliant facilities and undergo third-party testing. On top of that, this one-a-day DIM supplement is also vegetarian and free from major allergens, similar to Thorne’s.
Nutricost won as our choice for best value for multiple reasons, including:
Here’s how the pricing works out:
30 capsules | 120 capsules | |
---|---|---|
Servings per bottle | 30 | 120 |
Single purchase cost | $10 | $20 |
Single purchase price per serving | $0.33 | $0.17 |
Subscription cost | $8 | $16 |
Subscription price per serving | $0.27 | $0.13 |
For the 120-capsule option, only Nature’s Craft (also $20) matches Nutricost’s price, but Nature’s Craft contains 100mg less DIM per serving. The lower subscription discount (only 15%) and the lack of a money-back guarantee from Nature’s Craft further help the nod go to Nutricost.
While the 20% discount is nice, the biggest frustration with purchasing from Nutricost comes from its subscription intervals — you can only have deliveries every 30 days. This makes subscribing to anything other than the 30-day supply a bit of a pain unless multiple people in your household are taking DIM. This is a big reason why we recommend that you buy via Nutricost’s company store on Amazon.
Best for menopause
Photo by Innerbody Research
Thorne Hormone Advantage, previously known as Thorne DIM Advantage, is similar to Nature’s Craft and Nature’s Way in that it offers additional ingredients besides DIM (pomegranate extract and sulforaphane glucosinolate). However, unlike the competition, Thorne’s supplement does not contain a bioavailability enhancer, so the dose of DIM works independently.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Let’s examine how the other ingredients in Thorne’s supplement may help support people dealing with menopause symptoms:
Though more large, high-quality studies are necessary, pomegranate appears to be able to “significantly” improve menopause symptoms, including the severity of hot flashes, according to a 2023 systematic review.39
And an unrelated 2022 trial on 78 perimenopausal women found that a month of treatment with a pomegranate supplement improved hot flashes, insomnia, nervousness, depression, fatigue, headache, sexual complaints, and more.40
Like DIM, sulforaphane glucosinolate is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables. Besides being “an effective chemoprotective agent,” as noted in a 2018 study, it may also be beneficial for lowering inflammation, managing cholesterol levels, and balancing hormones in menopause.41 50
In a 2017 study on breast cancer survivors, a higher intake of soy and cruciferous vegetables led to less treatment-related fatigue and lower odds of experiencing other menopausal symptoms.42 Sulforaphane can also protect against osteoporosis, which menopause increases the risk of due to lower estrogen levels.43
Add to the above research DIM’s potential to balance hormones by boosting estrogen metabolism, and it becomes clear why we chose Thorne Hormone Advantage as the best DIM supplement for menopause.23
When purchasing from Thorne, it’s important to know that the company’s subscriptions don’t work like typical ones. Unlike most competitors, you only get a subscription discount from Thorne on subsequent deliveries. This means that, even if you subscribe from the outset, you’ll still be paying the same amount as a one-time purchase for your first order.
Here’s how Thorne Hormone Advantage is priced:
On top of an odd subscription policy, Thorne is one of the most expensive of our picks, and the eventual subscription discount is the lowest in this guide (only 10% off). But if you’re unhappy with your purchase, Thorne does offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, which we appreciate.
Most bioavailable
Nature’s Way DIM-Plus is the only one of our picks to use BR-DIM, a proprietary form of the compound that “exhibits 50% higher bioavailability” than the typically used crystalline form.5 It’s the form used most often in studies involving DIM, so the majority of the positive research surrounding DIM is on the same BR-DIM that Nature’s Way uses.
Previously, our choice as the most bioavailable DIM supplement was Puritan’s Pride DIM Complex — a product that also used BR-DIM — but that item has recently been discontinued. Fortunately, Nature’s Way DIM-Plus offers customers the same 100mg BR-DIM dose plus an additional 100mg of a branded spinach, broccoli, and cabbage blend called Protectamins. The three vegetables in the blend are cruciferous, meaning they could provide some extra DIM content to this supplement.3
Unlike our other top picks, the recommended dose of DIM-Plus is two capsules per day instead of one. However, Nature’s Way notes that those who want to follow an “intensive use” regimen will have to take different doses. For women, that’s two capsules twice daily (400mg); for men, it’s two capsules four times daily (800mg). It’s worth noting that — even though DIM has a decent safety record — these doses may be too high.30
In a 2008 tolerability study on absorption-enhanced DIM in healthy subjects (men and women), researchers found that BR-DIM is “well tolerated at single doses of up to 200mg, and that increasing the dose to 300mg did not result in an increase in” maximum plasma concentration. Moreover, 300mg of BR-DIM is when some adverse effects (i.e., digestive upset, nausea, vomiting) related to the treatment were reported.52 This isn’t to say that BR-DIM doses higher than 200mg are necessarily dangerous or guaranteed to cause side effects, but it may be best to stick with the lowest effective dose possible. And in the event that you want to titrate up to a higher dose, it’s worth speaking with your doctor first.
But, ultimately, Nature’s Way offers a well-dosed BR-DIM supplement that should be safe for most healthy adults when taken at the original recommended dose.
Like our other picks, Nature’s Way sells DIM-Plus as either a one-time purchase or a subscription with a 15% discount. Currently, you can choose from two bottle sizes. The chart below breaks down the pricing details.
60-count | 120-count | |
---|---|---|
Servings per bottle | 30 | 60 |
Single purchase cost | $27 | $48 |
Single purchase price per serving | $0.90 | $0.80 |
Subscription cost | $23 | $41 |
Subscription price per serving | $0.77 | $0.68 |
As with most of our other picks, excluding Thorne, you’ll need to hit a certain purchase threshold to qualify for free shipping from Nature’s Way. In this case, that threshold is $35 — roughly $20 or so less than what you need to spend with Nutricost ($59) or Nature’s Craft ($50).
And, if you’re unhappy with your DIM-Plus purchase, Nature’s Way has a 45-day satisfaction guarantee that allows you to return products sold by the company or any of its authorized sellers “for any reason.” The policy length isn’t as long as those from Nutricost or Thorne (60 days), but we appreciate its existence, especially since Nature’s Craft has no such policy.
Best for prostate health
Photo by Innerbody Research
Out of all our picks in this guide, Nature’s Craft DIM For Men contains the largest number of ingredients. At the time of this writing, this product’s handful of ingredients include:
Photo by Innerbody Research
Since Nature’s Craft is our pick for prostate health, let’s go over how the additional ingredients (save for BioPerine, which we’ve discussed) may help:
While nearly all the research has been on rats, multiple studies have noted Panax ginseng’s therapeutic effects on the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).32 33 One study, in particular, found that it could alleviate some side effects of finasteride (a BPH treatment).34 However, evidence from human studies is necessary to further understand the potential health benefits.
As explained by researchers in a 2013 study, a specific compound in grape seed extract (procyanidin B2 3,3″-di-O-gallate) may be able to slow the growth of prostate cancer tumors and promote tumor cell death.35
The same researchers went on to conduct a small trial. They gave 20 prostate cancer patients 150mg of grape seed extract twice a day for a year and monitored their disease progression. In the end, while eight patients dropped out of the study due to needing more aggressive therapy, grape seed extract extended the average time it took for patients’ prostate-specific antigen (PSA) numbers to double — from 5.4 months to 6.4 months. This suggests that the extract slowed cancer cell production.36 Additional research is needed to account for confounding factors, and it’s important to note that grape seed extract alone is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
These possible benefits, plus DIM’s potential to protect against prostate cancers, are why we chose Nature’s Craft as our pick for prostate health.15
Unfortunately, the price of DIM For Men has gone up a few dollars since we last checked a few months ago. None of our other picks have seen price changes, and Nature’s Craft doesn’t seem to have modified the supplement in any meaningful way. Nonetheless, this product still has some of the best prices per dose in this guide. Here’s how the costs break down:
Even though Nature’s Craft DIM For Men has a low cost per dose, Nutricost’s higher DIM amount, better subscription deal (20%), more affordable 30-day supply option, and money-back guarantee still earned it the crown for best value.
When it comes to shipping, Nature’s Craft has a $50 free shipping threshold. And two bottles of its DIM For Men come out to a total of $49.10 — a frustrating $0.90 short. Since shipping is only about $5 from Nature’s Craft, it’d be more economical to just pay for it instead of purchasing three bottles solely to reach $50 and get free shipping. (Unless you want three or more bottles, of course.)
However, those pricing details are for direct purchases from the Nature’s Craft website. If you want to save a fair bit of money on this supplement, we recommend iHerb, where this supplement is $19 at the time of this writing. This means you’ll save around $6 versus buying direct or $5 compared to purchasing from Amazon.
No matter your reason for investigating DIM supplements, there are multiple alternatives out there that may suit your needs just as well — or maybe even better. DIM’s potential for cancer prevention, improving prostate health, menopause symptom relief, and men’s hormone balance are a few major reasons people seem interested in it. So, below, you’ll find four categories of alternatives dedicated to each of those goals.
When it comes to cancer-preventing supplements, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center notes that some have more potential than others, but none conclusively prevent any form of cancer. The most promising ones are:44
Unfortunately, there’s no real way to fully prevent cancers, but there are some things you can do to lower your risk, including:45
For prostate health, Dr. Quoc-Dien Trinh, a urological surgeon at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, states, “Research has explored supplements' role in prostate health, suggesting positive results.”46
The supplements that have shown some promise include:46
Ultimately, though, Dr. Trinh recommends people rely on healthy eating — such as following a plant-based or Mediterranean diet — over supplements for prostate health.46
Dr. Jennie Stanford, a member of our medical review board, agrees with this recommendation, stating, “A diet high in ultra-processed foods, which make up the majority of the Western diet, has been shown to increase the risk of many types of cancers. In contrast, prioritizing a diet of whole, clean, antioxidant-rich foods may help prevent certain cancer types and promote optimal hormonal health.”
When it comes to menopause, the available treatments aren’t one-size-fits-all. While one person could benefit greatly from a supplement, someone else may do better with hormone replacement therapy, prescription medications, or another treatment entirely. It all depends on your symptoms, concerns, and unique characteristics.
Some potential options for menopause support include the following:
Depending on whether you’re looking for a way to reduce estrogen or boost testosterone, there are different approaches to consider.
If high estrogen is your concern, then your best bet as an alternative to DIM may be a medication, like a prescription aromatase inhibitor or a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM).47 And some botanicals — like grape seed extract — may act as natural aromatase inhibitors.48
Alternatively, reducing the fat in your diet may reduce estrogen levels, although the evidence is mixed and suggests small benefits at most.49 Rather, improving body composition is a well-established way to lower elevated estrogen levels. Adipose tissue (or body fat) produces estrogen, particularly in those with overweight or obesity.51 Maintaining a healthy body weight, including optimal lean body mass and fat mass, helps maintain healthy estrogen levels.
If you’re looking to boost testosterone, there are countless T-booster supplements on the market. However, our team has researched dozens of them, and we found nearly all of them to be lacking in one way or another: subclinical doses, dangerous inclusions, missing potentially beneficial ingredients, and so on. Because of this, we worked with experts to create our own — Innerbody Testosterone Support.
You can read more about that supplement and others we found recommendable in our guide to the best testosterone boosters.
Ultimately, though, if you’re concerned about a hormone imbalance, it’s best to speak with your doctor first and get testing done. This can help evaluate potential underlying conditions that need to be addressed. If you don’t want to wait for your doctor to order testing — and you want to bring the results to them — check out our guide to at-home testosterone tests.
Sources
Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kundakovic, M., & Rocks, D. (2022). Sex hormone fluctuation and increased female risk for depression and anxiety disorders: From clinical evidence to molecular mechanisms. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 66, 101010.
Pataky, M. W., Young, W. F., & Nair, K. S. (2021). Hormonal and metabolic changes of aging and the influence of lifestyle modifications. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 96(3), 788-814.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Diindolylmethane. NIH.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA 101: Dietary supplements. FDA.
Banerjee, S., Kong, D., Wang, Z., Bao, B., Hillman, G. G., & Sarkar, F. H. (2011). Attenuation of multi-targeted proliferation-linked signaling by 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM): From bench to clinic. Mutation Research, 728(1-2), 47-66.
Derosa, G., Maffioli, P., & Sahebkar, A. (2016). Piperine and its role in chronic diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 928, 173–184.
Kesarwani, K., Gupta, R., & Mukerjee, A. (2013). Bioavailability enhancers of herbal origin: an overview. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 3(4), 253-266.
Houghton C. A. (2019). Sulforaphane: Its "coming of age" as a clinically relevant nutraceutical in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019, 2716870.
Ruhee, R. T., & Suzuki, K. (2024). The immunomodulatory effects of sulforaphane in exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress: A prospective nutraceutical. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(3), 1790.
Yang, L., Zahid, M., Liao, Y., Rogan, E. G., Cavalieri, E. L., Davidson, N. E., Yager, J. D., Visvanathan, K., Groopman, J. D., & Kensler, T. W. (2013). Reduced formation of depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts by sulforaphane or KEAP1 disruption in human mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. Carcinogenesis, 34(11), 2587-2592.
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