Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid hormone, one of

the hormones produced by the adrenal glands. After being secreted by

the adrenal glands, it circulates in the bloodstream as DHEA-sulfate

(DHEAS) and is converted as needed into other hormones. DHEA is

chemically similar to testosterone and estrogen and is easily

converted into those hormones. DHEA production peaks in early

adulthood and declines in production with age in both men and women.

Therefore, many diseases which correlate with age also correlate with

low levels of DHEA production. Advocates of DHEA recommend it to

prevent the effects of aging. Long-term effects of self-medicating by

using DHEA supplements may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful, but it

is unlikely that DHEA supplements will affect each individual in the

same way. DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands. A synthetic form of

this hormone is also available as a supplement in tablet, capsule,

liquid, and sublingual form.

 

DHEA often has different effects in men, premenopausal women, and

postmenopausal women. (66). Supplementation with DHEA-S (a form of

DHEA) has resulted in increased levels of testosterone and

androstenedione, two steroid hormones. (67). Increasing DHEA may

increase testosterone, which in men may lead to prostate enlargement

and in women may lead to facial hair. Increasing estrogen may help

prevent osteoporosis or heart disease but may increase the risk of

breast cancer. The conversion of DHEA into testosterone may account

for the fact that low blood levels of DHEA have been reported in some

men with erectile dysfunction. (68). The findings of a double-blind

trial using 50 mg supplements of DHEA taken daily for six months

suggests that DHEA may improve erectile function in some men. (69).

Men under 60 years of age with erectile dysfunction have been found

to have lower DHEAS levels than men without the condition. (70).

 

DHEA has been shown to increase immunity. A group of elderly men with

low DHEA levels who were given 50 mg of DHEA per day for 20 weeks

experienced a significant activation of immune function. (71).

Postmenopausal women have also shown increased immune functioning in

just three weeks when given DHEA in double-blind research. (72).

DHEA may play some role in protecting against depression. Low DHEA

levels have been reported in older women suffering from this

condition, though at least one report has linked severe depression to

increased DHEA levels. After six months using 50 mg DHEA per day, " a

remarkable increase in perceived physical and psychological well-

being " was reported in both men and women in one double-blind trial.

(73). In another double-blind trial, after only six weeks of taking

DHEA at levels up to 90 mg per day, at least a 50% reduction in

depression was seen in 5 of 11 participants. (74). Other researchers

have reported dramatic reductions in depression at extremely high

amounts of DHEA (90-450 mg per day) given for six weeks to adults who

first became depressed after age 40 (in men) or at the time of

menopause (in women) in a double-blind trial. (75). Limiting

supplementation to only two weeks is inadequate in treating people

with depression. (76).

 

Dosage

 

The question of who should take this hormone remains controversial.

Some experts believe that daily intakes of 5–15 mg of DHEA for women

and 10–30 mg for men are appropriate amounts for people with

deficient blood levels of DHEA or DHEAS. (77). While a few

researchers suggest supplementation with as much as 50 mg per day in

postmenopausal women,(78). others consider this level excessive.

(79). People should consult a doctor to have DHEA levels monitored

before and during supplementation. Healthy people with normal blood

levels of DHEA or DHEAS should not take this hormone until more is

known about its effects. However, some doctors recommend DHEA

supplementation for selected people with depression, autoimmune

diseases, or other problems, even if their blood levels are normal.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

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