Lifespan is prolonged in autoimmune-prone (NZB/NZW) F1 mice fed a diet supplemented with indole-3-carbinol.

Dietary modulation has the potential to pre- vent or ameliorate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which is abundant in cruciferous veg- etables, was evaluated in a murine model of SLE because of its antiestrogenic activities. Female (NZB NZW) F1 mice, which develop SLE, were fed an AIN76A diet without or with 0.2 g/kg I3C, starting soon after weaning or at 5 mo of age. At 12 mo of age, 80% of mice fed the I3C-supplemented diet soon after weaning were alive compared with only 10% of controls. When experimental diets were initiated at 5 mo of age, 100% of I3C fed mice and 30% of controls were alive at 12 mo of age. Anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibod- ies developed in all groups, although at several time points, the levels produced in I3C-fed mice were significantly lower. Renal disease (proteinuria, histologic changes, IgG immune complex deposition, subepithelial deposits and diffuse epi- thelial cell foot process effacement) was more severe in con- trols with both protocols. The estrogen urinary metabolite ratio of 2- to 16-hydroxyestrone was increased in I3C-fed mice. These findings demonstrate a profound effect of dietary I3C in experimental SLE. J. Nutr. 133: 3610-3613, 2003.