DHEA according to LEF

[Guest guest]

Medical Information on DHEA: Dosing and Safety Precautions

MEDICAL INFORMATION ON DHEA, DOSING AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

• Medical Information on DHEA: Dosage and Use

• Benefits of DHEA: Medical Research Information

• Side Effects of Taking DHEA: Safety Precautions

• Ordering Pharmaceutical Grade DHEA Products

• Related LEF Magazine Articles

• Related Disease Prevention Protocols

• List of DHEA Related Medical Abstacts

• DHEA Home Page

Haven't found the information that you're looking for?

Please visit LEF Forum to find out more on DHEA.

 

A DHEAS (dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate) blood test should be taken 3-6 weeks

after beginning DHEA therapy to help determine optimal dosing. Some people

neglect to test their blood levels for DHEA and wind up chronically taking the

wrong dose. When having your blood tested for DHEA, blood should be drawn three

to four hours after the last dose. DHEA testing may save you money if it

shows that you can take less DHEA to maintain youthful DHEA serum levels.

The standard blood test to evaluate DHEA status is one that measures DHEAS.

The DHEAS is calculated in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) of blood.

The youthful ranges of DHEAS are as follows:

Men 400-560

Women 350-430

 

People over age 40, who do not supplement with DHEA, usually have serum

levels below 200, and many are below 100. Chronic DHEA deficiency is a risk

factor

for developing the degenerative diseases of aging according to the

preponderance of evidence existing in the scientific literature.

Some people obtain a baseline DHEAS blood test before beginning DHEA

replacement therapy, however, based upon numerous DHEA blood tests evaluated by

The

Life Extension Foundation, anyone over age 40 who does not supplement DHEA is

already deficient in serum DHEA. Therefore, it may be more economical to have

the first DHEA blood test 3-6 weeks after initiating DHEA replacement therapy.

There are precautions that should be observed that are different for men and

women.

Men:

Before initiating DHEA therapy, men should know their serum PSA (prostate

specific antigen) level and have passed a digital rectal exam. Men with prostate

cancer or severe benign prostate disease are advised to avoid DHEA since DHEA

can be converted into testosterone (and estrogen). These sex hormones and

their metabolites can promote cell proliferation. It is important to understand,

however, that well-controlled studies show that serum DHEA levels are usually

lower in men with malignant prostate disease compared to healthy control

subjects. Therefore, men are advised to have a PSA and digital rectal exam

before

initiating DHEA therapy to rule out existing prostate disease, not because DHEA

causes the disease. To the contrary, there is evidence indicating that

maintaining youthful levels of DHEA may protect against prostate cancer.

To reduce the risk that hormone modulation with DHEA could contribute to a

prostate problem, men taking DHEA are also advised to take:

Vitamin E 400-800 IU daily

Selenium 200-600 mcg daily

Mega Soy Extract 135 mcg twice daily

(40% isoflavone extract)

Lycopene Extract 20-40 mg daily

Saw Palmetto Extract 160 mg twice daily

Pygeum Extract 50 mg twice daily

Nettle Extract 120 mg twice daily

Gamma Tocopheral 200 mg daily

 

Note: An aromatase inhibitor should be considered if serum estrogen levels

are high. Refer to the Male Hormone Modulation Protocol for complete information

about suppressing excessive estrogen levels.

Men over 40 should consider checking their PSA and DHEAS serum levels every

six to twelve months thereafter. Men should also periodically check their blood

levels for free testosterone and estrogen to make sure that DHEA is following

a youthful metabolic pathway. See the Male Hormone Modulation protocol for

additional hormone balance testing that can be done at the same time serum DHEA

and PSA levels are being tested.

Women:

DHEA can increase serum estrogen levels in women and eliminate the need for

estrogen replacement therapy in some women.

To help protect cells (especially breast cells) from excessive proliferation

in response to estrogen, women taking DHEA should also take:

Melatonin 500 mcg to 3 mg nightly

Vitamin E Succinate 400-800 IU daily

Mega Soy Extract 135 mg twice daily

(40% isoflavone extract)

Indole-3-carbinol 200 mg twice daily

Vitamin D3 1000-1400 IU daily

 

Women should consider estrogen and testosterone testing when they take their

DHEA blood test in order to evaluate DHEA’s affect on their blood levels of

estrogens.

Women who have been diagnosed with an estrogen-dependent cancer should

consult their physicians before beginning DHEA therapy. Some studies indicate

that

higher serum DHEA protects against breast cancer, but no adequate studies have

been done to evaluate the effects of DHEA in breast cancer patients. If DHEA

were to elevate estrogens too much, this could theoretically increase the risk

of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells proliferating faster. Women

taking DHEA should refer to the Female Hormone Modulation protocol for

information about restoring youthful hormone balance.

1 capsule contains:

25 mg of pure free base pharmaceutical grade DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).

Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, cross-linked povidone, stearic

acid, colloidal silica, gelatin and water.

Caution:

DHEA can be converted into testosterone (and estrogen). These sex hormones

and their metabolites can promote benign and malignant prostate cell

proliferation. Men with prostate cancer or severe benign prostate hypertrophy

are advised

to avoid DHEA. Women with estrogen-dependent cancer should consult their

physicians before beginning DHEA therapy.

Individuals with existing liver disease (such as viral hepatitis or

cirrhosis) might consider taking DHEA sublingually (under your tongue) or using

a

topical DHEA cream to reduce the amount of DHEA entering the liver. DHEA is

converted by the liver into DHEA-s (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate). Those with

liver

disease should carefully monitor liver enzyme levels to make sure that DHEA

therapy is not making liver disease worse.

Dosage and use:

For optimal results, take 1-4 capsules early in the day.

Taking DHEA with fat or an oil capsule enhances absorption.

DHEA serum blood tests are suggested 3 to 6 weeks after initiating DHEA

replacement therapy to optimize individual dosing.

Refer to the Life Extension Foundation’s DHEA precautions before taking this

product.