How to Raise DHEA Levels
Produced in the adrenal glands, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is the most common steroid hormone created by the human body. It is metabolized from pregnenolone and acts as a precursor to the androgen and estrogen sex hormones. Some studies show that DHEA alleviates symptoms in certain diseases while exacerbating others, and other studies suggest that low DHEA levels can cause ailments that do not respond well to DHEA treatment. Due to the complex system of the body's hormones, diagnosing DHEA deficiency and dosing supplementation should be overseen by a licensed health professional.
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Instructions
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Understanding Hormones and DHEA
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DHEA is associated with the sex hormones, making the natural DHEA levels of youth higher than those after age 35. Clinical studies directly correlate the youthful, higher DHEA levels with good health, clear mental function, and a strong libido. Lower levels are associated with cardiac and circulatory diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and hormone-related cancers involving the prostate, ovaries, and breast tissue.
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Sex hormones are metabolized from cholesterol, and a link between heart disease and low sex hormones has been observed. Researchers postulate that higher cholesterol levels in middle age point to the body's attempt to create more cholesterol to metabolize into sex hormones. Health professionals prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to counteract low hormone levels, but HRT has been controversial because of the unpredictable side effects of synthesized pharmacological medications. Alternative HRT using bioidentical hormones has shown encouraging results without the side effects of lab-grown hormones. Natural hormone therapy has even shown to lower cholesterol levels.
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Low DHEA levels have also been recorded in patients with mental disorders, some cancers, immune disorders, osteoporosis, and inflammation. Cancers involving the reproductive organs may be related to the improper metabolism of hormones, rendering hormone treatment potentially harmful. However, several studies show DHEA to have anticancer qualities, preventing cancer cell development in the breast tissue, skin, colon, liver, and thyroid.
Using DHEA as Hormone Therapy
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Women generally have high levels of estrogen until menopause begins, bringing a sudden drop in sex hormones. The rapid loss of estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA is associated with several diseases including osteoporosis and cardiovascular issues. Estrogen protects the heart, lowering women's overall risk of heart disease during their early and middle-age years. Dr. Glenn Braunstein of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center notes in his 2002 paper, "Androgen Insufficiency in Women: Summary of Critical Issues," that women with low testosterone and DHEA often experience loss of energy, libido, bone density, strength, and even muscle mass.
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Men with low testosterone may find DHEA treatment to be a viable solution for erectile dysfunction and for the loss of "free" testosterone, that is, readily available testosterone. A 1997 study by Dr. John E. Morley of the St. Louis University School of Medicine concludes that free testosterone blood levels correlate to DHEA levels. Other studies show DHEA supplementation to reverse erectile dysfunction in men with no history of cardiac or vascular disease. However, men considering DHEA treatment should have a PSA (prostate specific antigen) panel done prior to beginning DHEA therapy and be retested every six to 12 months.
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As a hormone precursor, DHEA is converted into the hormones the body needs at the time. Two of DHEA's remarkable abilities include inhibiting the G6PD enzyme, which contributes to cancer and heart disease, and producing the 7-Keto metabolite, which is known to burn fat, lower overall cholesterol, and strengthen the immune system. This DHEA metabolite, 7-Keto, is a relatively safe therapy option for patients with hormone-related illnesses as it does not synthesize into testosterone or estrogen.
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Tips & Warnings
A daily dose of 30 milligrams to 50 milligrams of DHEA has been shown to improve mood, overall well-being, bone density, and libido in women.
Because DHEA can be converted into testosterone or estrogen, patients with hormone-related cancers should not use DHEA therapy, nor should women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or children under the age of 18.
In men, DHEA may cause an increase in DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which is thought to cause the development of cancer cells in the prostate to progress.
In women, too much DHEA can promote acne and unwanted facial hair.
Wild yam extract is used to create some DHEA supplements, but the human body cannot convert wild yam into DHEA.
Consult a licensed health professional before attempting DHEA supplementation.
References
- Life Extension Foundation: DHEA Restoration Therapy
- "Androgen insufficiency in women: Summary of critical issues;" Glenn Braunstein, MD; 2002
- Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences of the United States of America: "Potentially predictive and manipulable blood serum correlates of aging in the healthy human male: progressive decreases in bioavailable testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and the ratio of insulin-like growth factor 1 to growth hormone"
