DHEA for weight loss: miracle drug or unproven experiment?

[Guest guest]

DHEA f. MedicalConspiracies@googlegroor weight loss: miracle drug or unproven

experiment?

http://www.NewsTarget.com/008953.html

 

 

 

DHEA for weight loss: miracle drug or unproven experiment?

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Posted Jun 27, 2005 PT by Dani Veracity

 

In a study exploring DHEA-replacement therapy as a weight loss technique,

researchers gave test animals large doses of both DHEA and the drug

fenfluramine. According to Dr. Ray Sahelian's DHEA: A Practical Guide, " Even a

hot fudge sundae with fresh bananas and dark chocolate syrup couldn't get [the

test animals] interested. " If you're like most sweet-toothed adults, you

probably can't imagine not being interested in a hot fudge sundae. You're

probably thinking, " There's something that can make me not interested in a hot

fudge sundae? Give me some of that! " But if your taste buds haven't entirely

taken over your mind, you might also be asking whether animals would normally be

interested in a hot fudge sundae. Unlike the researchers, you might conclude

that the animals' lack of interest in ice cream doesn't necessarily prove there

are weight-loss properties in DHEA and fenfluramine.

 

If you have come to the conclusion above, you have also inadvertently realized

the problem that is inherent in most DHEA-replacement therapy research.

Scientists performed most of this research on animals, and what works for

animals may not work for people. This leads to an obvious discrepancy between

results from animal-based and human-based DHEA studies. As Dr. Sahelian writes,

" [A study] done at the University of Rochester in New York evaluated the

administration of 1,600 milligrams of DHEA for four weeks to eight healthy men.

The researchers did not find that this steroid had much of an influence on

weight loss or energy and protein metabolism. Epidemiological studies also do

not support the theory, as had been proposed based on animal studies, that high

serum DHEA(S) levels protected against obesity and diabetes. "

 

It is important to note that even human DHEA studies frequently contradict each

other. In PDR for Nutritional Supplements, Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik

wrote, " A report in 1988 that high-dose DHEA could favorably affect lipids and

induce weight loss in young males was not confirmed in two subsequent trials. In

another trial, using the same 1,600-milligrams daily dosage of DHEA used in the

1988 study but this time in women, there was, again, no weight loss. "

 

Contrary to the findings of the University of Rochester-based study, however, in

a Temple University-based study, DHEA-supplements enabled adult men to lose 31

percent of mean body fat, as cited in Joseph B. Marion's Anti-Aging Manual.

Furthermore, Marion writes that a Temple University researcher, " …reported that

DHEA can help a person lose weight by blocking an enzyme known to produce fat

tissue. " Although the results of human-based and animal-based studies differ for

obvious reasons, how can these equally reputable, human-based studies be so

contradictory? continues on page 2 ->

[Guest guest]

What's being said here, points up the serious need for supplements manufacturers to come clean with the unsuspecting public to which they sell their products. DHEA can be found promoted strongly by nearly every supplement company, telling people of the many wonderful outcomes they can expect from taking DHEA. I've never taken more than the minimum "recommended dose," and as soon as I read more widely on the matter of its safety, stopped taking it altogether. If bottles of DHEA were required to have a statement that "There is no reliable evidence that DHEA has been shown to have any effect on weight loss,...etc....," we would see a huge drop in the sale of this product. That's why I don't expect supplement companies to tell us the truth.

 

JP

 

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121

. MedicalConspiracies@googlegro ; .

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:45 PM

DHEA for weight loss: miracle drug or unproven experiment?

DHEA f. MedicalConspiracies@googlegroor weight loss: miracle drug or unproven experiment? http://www.NewsTarget.com/008953.html DHEA for weight loss: miracle drug or unproven experiment? Print Link Related Page 1 | next page -> Posted Jun 27, 2005 PT by Dani Veracity In a study exploring DHEA-replacement therapy as a weight loss technique, researchers gave test animals large doses of both DHEA and the drug fenfluramine. According to Dr. Ray Sahelian's DHEA: A Practical Guide, "Even a hot fudge sundae with fresh bananas and dark chocolate syrup couldn't get [the test animals] interested." If you're like most sweet-toothed adults, you probably can't imagine not being interested in a hot fudge sundae. You're probably thinking, "There's something that can make me not interested in a hot fudge sundae? Give me some of that!" But if your taste buds haven't entirely taken over your mind, you might also be asking whether animals would normally be interested in a hot fudge sundae. Unlike the researchers, you might conclude that the animals' lack of interest in ice cream doesn't necessarily prove there are weight-loss properties in DHEA and fenfluramine. If you have come to the conclusion above, you have also inadvertently realized the problem that is inherent in most DHEA-replacement therapy research. Scientists performed most of this research on animals, and what works for animals may not work for people. This leads to an obvious discrepancy between results from animal-based and human-based DHEA studies. As Dr. Sahelian writes, "[A study] done at the University of Rochester in New York evaluated the administration of 1,600 milligrams of DHEA for four weeks to eight healthy men. The researchers did not find that this steroid had much of an influence on weight loss or energy and protein metabolism. Epidemiological studies also do not support the theory, as had been proposed based on animal studies, that high serum DHEA(S) levels protected against obesity and diabetes." It is important to note that even human DHEA studies frequently contradict each other. In PDR for Nutritional Supplements, Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik wrote, "A report in 1988 that high-dose DHEA could favorably affect lipids and induce weight loss in young males was not confirmed in two subsequent trials. In another trial, using the same 1,600-milligrams daily dosage of DHEA used in the 1988 study but this time in women, there was, again, no weight loss." Contrary to the findings of the University of Rochester-based study, however, in a Temple University-based study, DHEA-supplements enabled adult men to lose 31 percent of mean body fat, as cited in Joseph B. Marion's Anti-Aging Manual. Furthermore, Marion writes that a Temple University researcher, "…reported that DHEA can help a person lose weight by blocking an enzyme known to produce fat tissue." Although the results of human-based and animal-based studies differ for obvious reasons, how can these equally reputable, human-based studies be so contradictory? continues on page 2 ->

 

 

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