NutraBio DIM – An Athlete’s Hormone Optimizer

Far too often, those of us in the fitness industry tend to take things to extremes. In a positive light, that of course entails the intense workouts and diets we endure in order to reach our goals.

NutraBio Logo

NutraBio is the industry leader in quality and transparency, and has been for quite some time.

However, one of life’s most cruel lessons is that we can’t have good without some bad! Some of the more intense individuals often completely overdo it – they overtrain, develop bad relationships with food, or make too many sacrifices. This “all-or-nothing” approach can be very dangerous, and it’s important for us to recognize when we’re susceptible to it.

Hormone status: Not too low… but also not too high!

NutraBio DIM

Keep your estrogen levels in balance with NutraBio DIM with Calcium D-Glucarate and BioPerine to improve its function!

This mindset can quickly engrain itself in men who are trying to improve their hormone levels. There’s a negative stigma around low testosterone levels, some of which is warranted – low-testosterone can bring about some unwanted health issues! Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean you should pump yourself full of testosterone to fix it.

Too much testosterone can yield hormonal imbalances, which have their own set of issues, such as mood swings, “risky” behavior, and even infertility![1] Let’s also not forget that the body converts unnecessary testosterone into estrogen, throwing your body completely out of whack. Like we suggested, that “all-or-nothing” mindset can be seriously dangerous, and that’s all too true in this case.

Clearly, there seems to be a “point of diminishing returns” with testosterone-boosting ingredients. If your levels are low, you’re definitely going to want to improve them, but not to extreme levels! Leave it to NutraBio to help you attack this problem “without compromise.” Specializing in supplements manufactured with precision to bring you the results you’re looking for, they’re adding a new product to help optimize your testosterone levels – NutraBio DIM.

DIM: Modulating estrogen levels the smart way

You’ll find that most ingredients are taken to boost testosterone levels, but DIM actually focuses on blocking elevated estrogen levels. This helps bring you into a “hormonal equilibrium” of sorts, the state your body is meant to be in!

In the following post, we’ll dissect just how DIM can be a valuable tool for you, as well as suggest what else works well with it to form a comprehensive, safe, testosterone-boosting regimen. But first, be sure to check PricePlow and our NutraBio news alerts for the top supplement deals, news, and reviews out there!

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The NutraBio DIM label – more than just Diindolylmethane!

With just 100mg per serving of DIM, and a bit more room in the capsule to take up, what’s the company to do who works without fillers or excipients? Add a synergistic source of calcium – but it’s not the calcium part of the bonus ingredient that we’re most interested in!

  • DIM (100mg)

    NutraBio DIM Ingredients

    NutraBio doesn’t add fillers or excipients – they add beneficial ingredients to round out the capsule in lower-dosed supplements like DIM!

    What is this stuff, and what can it do for me?

    3,3’-diindolylmethane, thankfully abbreviated to DIM, is a compound derived from everyone’s favorite food – vegetables! Specifically, it’s commonly found in those of the cruciferous type, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.[2]

    However, DIM isn’t the first nutrient you digest from these veggies. These vegetables are first used to produce indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which is then quickly broken down by an enzyme called Myrosinase, which one also gets from the vegetable.[3] Breaking down I3C yields a bunch of different molecules, all of which surely serve their own purpose.

    One of them, however, stands out among the rest. That would be DIM, which has been shown in research to be a potent estrogen-blocker, in addition to a hormone optimizer.

    Inhibits aromatase

    Aromatase is an enzyme responsible for turning androgens (testosterone) into estrogens (estrone and estradiol) within the body.[4] In research, high levels of aromatase have obviously been linked to high levels of estrogen, and have even shown some relation to increasing risk of breast cancer.[4]

    Now, if only there were a way to keep aromatase from converting our testosterone away…

    NutraBio DIM Benefits

    Diindolylmethane Benefits

    …Well, there is! DIM has been shown to decrease aromatase expression.[4] This helps promote higher levels of testosterone within the blood, through decreasing the amount of it that gets converted to estrogen.

    Because of the level to which our hormones affect our bodies, scientists are still looking to pinpoint the exact pathways DIM works through. However, research has concluded that it does activate aryl hydrogen receptors, which may degrade estrogen receptors.[5] Not only does it prohibit the conversion into estrogen, it also seems to prevent any converted estrogen from being absorbed!

    But, it doesn’t completely shut the door on estrogen…

    Despite the bad reputation it has, estrogen is essential to the human body, whether you’re a man or a woman. Yes, it is true that higher levels of testosterone are more conducive for males, and the same goes for estrogen and females. But, as alluded to earlier when we discussed the “extreme” stances some of us tend to take, that does not mean you want all of one and none of the other! We need a balance between testosterone and estrogen, and a balance between “good” and “bad” estrogen. We’ve already covered how DIM can help you achieve the former, and it turns out, it seems to help us attain the latter, as well!

    Estradiol 2-hydroxylase vs. 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone
    NutraBio Diindolylmethane

    NutraBio Diindolylmethane supports estrogen balance

    In research published in 1993, the ability of DIM to induce estradiol 2-hydroxylase (EH) was tested. It’s important to note that in this study, EH is regarded as the “good” estrogen, while 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone is labeled as “bad”. The issue with these two compounds is that their pathways compete with each other; that is, one tries to dominate production over the other.

    This study found that DIM increased synthesis of EH in the competing pathways while decreasing levels of 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone.[6] This is incredibly important, as it means that DIM may help promote healthy levels of estrogen levels within the body. It helps optimize estrogen levels, not completely rid the body of the hormone! That, despite the false belief that many tend to have, is a critical component of fixing your hormones!

    Other potential auxiliary benefits

    While its effects on your hormones is the main reason NutraBio has decided to produce a DIM supplement, there’s some light research suggesting it may be able to do a bit more, too.

    May help fend off body fat
    3,3'-Diindolylmethane

    Balance your estrogen? Even the molecule is balanced!

    One study from 2011 investigated I3C’s effects on mice consuming a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Upon a series of 5mg/kg bodyweight injections of I3C over a 12-week period, researchers found that the compound seemed to decrease expected body weight and fat accumulation, in addition to improving glucose tolerance.[7]

    Clearly, there are some issues here. Not only did they use mice (and not humans), but they physically injected I3C into their stomachs. In addition, they didn’t use isolated DIM, and while its likely to be the critical factor in the results, it’s hard to decisively conclude so. So, before you go off injecting I3C or DIM into your stomach, we’d suggest waiting for more definitive research to be published regarding DIM’s weight gain-prevention potential!

    Antioxidant properties

    Researchers in 2005 were interested in the relationship between DIM and oxidative stressors. In this study, they purposely induced oxidative stress on the DNA of mice. They found that, in a dose-dependent manner, DIM seemed to induce activation of a repair enzyme that helped reduce damage. This enzyme, ataxia-telangiectasia (ATM), is a protein kinase that has a critical role in regards to responses to DNA breaks in cells.[9]

    This suggests some activity of DIM in relation to reducing the effects of oxidative stress. While this is intriguing, similarly to the findings in the previous section in regards to fat gain, we would love to see more research before we jump to any conclusions!

  • Calcium D-Glucarate (500mg)

    In order to complement the estrogen-balancing effects of DIM, NutraBio is filling out the capsule with a beneficial 500mg of calcium D-glucarate. This calcium salt is found in high concentrations within a variety of foods, specifically oranges, apples, grapefruits, and cruciferous vegetables.[10]

    What it does – glucuronidation and detoxification

    Glucaric Acid

    Food Sources of Glucaric Acid[10]

    Calcium D-glucarate breaks down to glucarate acid, which is mainly used by the body to help facilitate the process glucuronidation. In this complex process, a glucuronide group is bonded to a molecule, which is a signal for it to be excreted by the kidneys.[11] Essentially, it’s a detoxifying process!

    This process comes into play with specific regard to NutraBio DIM in how your body handles hormones. All steroid hormones within the body are glucuronidated, due to their production being via the thyroid hormone.[12] This means that both testosterone and estrogen, among other hormones, are affected by this process.

    If you can connect the dots here, the inclusion of calcium D-glucarate here is obvious – it helps rid the body of excess estrogen! In a study using mice, a diet containing this salt reduced serum estrogen by 23% when compared to placebo.[13] This directly complements exactly what DIM is doing, helping to re-balance your hormones.

    It’s important that we note that, while testosterone also undergoes glucuronidation, no research has shown glucaric acid to decrease its levels. But, based on the biological process itself, it seems plausible that it might. However, research hasn’t shown it yet, so we can’t say for sure!

  • BioPerineⓇ (5mg)

    Bioperine

    Bioperine is the trusted, trademarked form of black pepper extract that promises 95% or greater piperine, the part of black pepper with all the activity!

    Last, we have BioPerineⓇ, a patented form of black pepper extract standardized for 95% piperine. We’re seeing this on virtually every label nowadays, and it’s rarely a sight for sore eyes. Black pepper extract has shown to enhance bioavailability in supplemented ingredients, including both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins.[14]

    Piperine from BioPerine is here to make sure you get all the benefits NutraBio is trying to deliver. Anytime we can be more confident that we’re fully absorbing a supplement, we’re all for it!

Stacking – correct your hormones

There seem to be three avenues that warrant DIM supplementation. If you’re someone who is looking to promote anabolism, and is considering taking healthy, safe, testosterone-boosting products, DIM can be a worthy adjunct. A simple and safe one that we enjoy is NutraBio’s KSM-66 Ashwagandha, which primarily works through the regulation of cortisol. By de-regulating aromatase, you can be more confident that those test-boosters are truly having their full effects.

Wonderful for women

NutraBio Ashwagandha KSM-66

One capsule and you’re set for the day, especially if stacked with a scoop of Alpha EAA

Women may also see some value here. Because DIM promotes production of “good estrogen”, women dealing with hormone issues could potentially use it alongside other treatments. This should always be done alongside blood work.

Great as a PCT add-on

DIM also may have benefit in any post-cycle therapy (PCT) treatment. Coming off of anabolic products can often throw your body for a whirl, and using supplementation to help re-optimize your hormones is crucial to keeping your body (especially your organs!) healthy.

Because DIM seems to function as more as a “hormone-optimizer” rather than a full-throttle test booster, it can help you recover from your cycle – but it’s still likely you’ll need pharmaceutical grade options if you took a pharmaceutical method to increase your hormones! Again, it all comes down to blood work and testing when going that route!

Conclusion – NutraBio continues to have you covered

Classifying NutraBio as a supplement company really doesn’t do them justice, as they are so much more than that. Sure, they put out some of the best proteins, pre-workouts, and amino acids in the game, but they’ve truly expanded beyond that. In re-igniting their single-ingredient product line, NutraBio is clearly more worried about giving you the tools that you need to enhance your health and fitness. Multi-ingredient products don’t work for everyone, but everyone can build their own personal stack. This specificity is perfect for NutraBio’s intelligent customer base, and allows them to fully customize their supplement arsenals that work for them!

Single-ingredients for a stack from a trusted third-party source

Best Estrogen Supplement

DIM with Calcium D-Glucarate.
Diindoylymethane (aka DIM) is a potent natural compound found in many cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale.

Other single-ingredient products, such as with the aforementioned NutraBio KSM-66 Ashwagandha and their 600mg Alpha-GPC capsules, show that this is an ongoing process in 2019. In DIM with Calcium D-Glucarate, they’re offering yet another tool to get your testosterone levels where you want them to be – not too high, but certainly not low either!

Here, the brand that manufactures #WithoutCompromise is providing a safe and effective formula to help those concerned with their hormones. It’s not the be-all-end-all, but if you’re looking to boost testosterone or re-optimize your hormonal profile, this is a tool you should absolutely consider in the stack, and add to other test boosters that don’t have it.

Used in conjunction with some lifestyle changes and other products, DIM with Calcium-D-Glucarate could have you well on your way to a hormonal stability many of us wish we had!

NutraBio DIM – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

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No spam, no scams.

Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

NutraBio DIM Label

The full NutraBio DIM Label

About the Author: Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto is a research scientist and water sports athlete who founded PricePlow. He is an n=1 diet experimenter with extensive experience in supplementation and dietary modification, whose personal expertise stems from several experiments done on himself while sharing lab tests.

Mike's goal is to bridge the gap between nutritional research scientists and non-academics who seek to better their health in a system that has catastrophically failed the public.

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References

  1. Harvard Health Publishing; “Testosterone – What It Does And Doesn’t Do.”; Harvard Health; https://www.health.harvard.edu/drugs-and-medications/testosterone–what-it-does-and-doesnt-do
  2. Aggarwal, Bharat B, and Haruyo Ichikawa; “Molecular Targets and Anticancer Potential of Indole-3-Carbinol and Its Derivatives.”; Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.); U.S. National Library of Medicine; Sept. 2005; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16082211
  3. De Kruif, C A, et al; “Structure Elucidation of Acid Reaction Products of Indole-3-Carbinol: Detection in Vivo and Enzyme Induction in Vitro.”; Chemico-Biological Interactions; U.S. National Library of Medicine; 1991; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1954658
  4. Balunas, Marcy J et al; “Natural products as aromatase inhibitors.”; Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry; vol. 8,6; 2008; 646-82; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074486/
  5. Sanderson, J T, et al; “2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin and Diindolylmethanes Differentially Induce Cytochrome P450 1A1, 1B1, and 19 in H295R Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells.”; Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology; U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2001; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11294972
  6. Jellinck, P H, et al; “Ah Receptor Binding Properties of Indole Carbinols and Induction of Hepatic Estradiol Hydroxylation.”; Biochemical Pharmacology; U.S. National Library of Medicine; 9 Mar. 1993; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8384853
  7. Chang, Hsiao-Pei, et al; “Antiobesity Activities of Indole-3-Carbinol in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.”; Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.); U.S. National Library of Medicine; Apr. 2011; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21392705
  8. Fan, Saijun, et al; “DIM (3,3′-diindolylmethane) confers protection against ionizing radiation by a unique mechanism”; PNAS; Nov. 2013; https://www.pnas.org/content/110/46/18650
  9. Kitagawa, R, and M B Kastan; “The ATM-Dependent DNA Damage Signaling Pathway.”; Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology; U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2005; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16869743
  10. Dwivedi C, et al; “Effect of calcium glucarate on beta-glucuronidase activity and glucarate content of certain vegetables and fruits”; Biochem Med Metab Biol; 1990; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2346674
  11. Dwivedi C, Downie AA, Webb TE; “Net glucuronidation in different rat strains: importance of microsomal beta-glucuronidase”; FASEB J; 1987; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3115856
  12. Veerle Bruggeman, Veerle Darras; “Comprehensive Handbook of Iodine: Nutritional, Biochemical, Pathological and Therapeutic Aspects”; 2009, Pages 295-302; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123741356000315
  13. Walaszek Z, et al; “Dietary glucarate as anti-promoter of 7,12-dimethylbenz{a}anthracene-induced mammary tumorigenesis”; Carcinogenesis; 1986; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3091283
  14. BioPerine; “Research”; https://www.bioperine.com/index.php/researchhighlight

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