Indole- a chemical that enhances our lives and may stave off aging

Written by Dr. Harold Gunatillake-Health writer

Indole is an organic compound occurring in orange blossoms, jasmine, cruciferous veggies, kale, coal tar and in fecal matter. It is a phytochemical (Phyto means plant in Greek) is found in most fruits and plants, and all phytochemicals decrease your risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and enhances our lives for better health. Hence indole is a class of phytochemicals associated with cancer prevention and have many other health benefits and more yet to be discovered. They provide plants with color, odor, and flavor.

Mounting dietary studies suggest that a high dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, bok choy, turnips, kale, and cauliflower decrease cancer risk exerting anti-carcinogenic activity. Cruciferous vegetables provide a rich indole source. According to a study published in the December, 2004 issue of “the Journal of Nutrition,” indole inhibits prostate cancer cells. Similar results have been shown with breast and colon cancer. They may induce detoxification of carcinogens, limit production of cancer-related hormones, block carcinogens and prevent tumor growth.

If you have a thyroid disorder, you need to check with your doctor whether it is okay to eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables. These vegetables have goitrogenic compounds which prevent uptake of iodine through your gut.

In addition to anti-cancerous properties of Indoles, the researchers have found that they have the potential for extending vitality in mammals, including mice. These findings could one day help the researchers to find a drug containing indole to help humans to live a healthy long life.

Indoles are produced in our gut by many kinds of microbiota through breaks down of tryptophan, an essential amino-acid. Tryptophan is needed for growth and development, producing niacin, and creating serotonin in the body.

Daniel Kalman, PhD., a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA examined the effects of indoles on improving the “health-span” of various organisms, ranging from fruit flies to mice.

Indoles, produced by gut microbes have been found to help worms, flies, and mice maintain mobility and resilience for more of their lifespans, many scientists have discovered.

Prof Kalman and his team in a new study found that indoles production created by Escherichia coli (E Coli) in your gut made mice more resistant to infections and other forms of physiological stress.

He further found that indole seemed to extend life in younger mice, even after they were exposed to life threatening levels of radiation they lived longer.

Prof. Kalman talks about the “health span” to describe the length of time a human or animal, while aging, can stay active and resist stress.

He further states, “We need a better understanding of health span.” “With medical advances, people are living longer; but you might not really want to live longer if it means spending those extra years frail and infirm.”

Indoles may be enhancing the gut barrier for bad germs and also preventing inflammatory effects in our bodies. The compound indole may be the answer for people to live longer and healthier.

There are promising results that indole produced by our gut lining and gut microbiota could make life better and longer for human beings.

It is possible that this compound prevents shortening of the telomeres. Shortening of our telomeres has a negative effect on our health. Telomere shortening is the main cause of age-related break down of our cells. Compound indole may be having a positive effect to prevent such breakdown.

Conclusions: The facts to take home after reading this article is to eat plenty of cruciferous veggies including kale, and with the help of our good gut microbiota producing indole, in addition to a breakdown of tryptophan, E.coli and other unknown mechanisms will help us to live longer and healthily.
Gut bacteria-produced compound may stave off aging