Pregnenolone – A remarkable supplement vital for your mental health
Pregnenolone is sometimes referred to as the “mother steroid compound”, because, along with DHEA, it sits at the top of what is known as the “hormone cascade” from which all steroid hormones in the body are created including cortisone, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone.
Pregnenolone is synthesised from cholesterol by both the adrenal glands (the star shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys) and the central nervous system. Pregnenolone has been available as a supplement since the 1940’s. However, interest in cortisol meant that for many years scientific research into pregnenolone took something of a back seat until experiments in the 1990’s demonstrated that pregnenolone might be significantly implicated in both memory and stress. Indeed, it is now known that pregnenolone is so active in the human brain that it is often referred to as a neurohormone or neurosteroid, and has a direct impact on memory, emotional and mood disorders and fatigue. Optimal levels of pregnenolone are vitally important for mental health well being.
Pregnenolone supplementation acts in two ways. Sometimes it is the direct action of pregnenolone that is beneficial, whereas in other situations the benefit arises from the fact that the pregnenolone is being converted into other steroid hormones. Just how much pregnenolone will be used as pregnenolone and how much will be used to produce other hormones will vary between individuals. There are a number of determining factors including gender, certain diseases, age and lifestyle such as diet, exercise and stress levels.
As with so many hormones, pregnenolone levels decrease with increasing age. At birth, levels are very high but by the age of two levels are quite low and remain that way throughout the remainder of the first decade of life. They then gradually begin to rise to reach a peak at around the age of 30 by which time levels have increased around 3-4 times. After they have peaked, levels start to decline so that by the age of 70, pregnenolone levels have typically fallen by as much as 60%. Stress, depression, hypothyroidism and toxin exposure can also lead to reduced pregnenolone levels. For most people, however, pregnenolone supplementation is not necessary until they have reached their early to mid forties because until then their bodies usually produce enough of the hormone.
The actual way that pregnenolone works within the body is still not fully understood although it is clear that pregnenolone supplementation has a number of very positive, beneficial effects. Many of these benefits appear to be similar to those produced by cortisol but, unlike cortisol which can have very detrimental effects on the body if levels remain too high for too long, pregnenolone is extremely well tolerated. The benefits of pregnenolone supplementation include:
• Stress relief; Pregnenolone is believed to play a role in the neuro-endocrine response to stress. It appears to be able to reduce stress acting as a sort of ‘stress buffer’, particularly as it seems to help to induce a better state of relaxation
• Memory enhancement; One of the main benefits of taking pregnenolone as a supplement is the very positive effect that it has on the memory. Indeed, pregnenolone is possibly the most effective memory enhancer available. Even at relatively low doses, pregnenolone helps in the acquisition of knowledge and the long term memory of learned behaviour
• Fatigue buster; Pregnenolone is very successful at improving the quality of sleep and decreasing intermittent wakefulness. Indeed, its ability to improve sleep was one of the earliest discoveries made regarding the properties of this remarkable supplement. But not only does pregnenolone improve the quality of sleep, it also boosts energy. It does this by helping to increase the activity of cytochrome P450 detoxifying enzymes. By assisting cells in the detoxification of a whole range of potentially harmful toxins, the cell mitochondria are protected and energy levels boosted
• Anti Depressant and Mood Enhancer; Pregnenolone acts not only as a mood enhancer but also as a mild anti-depressant. Steroid hormones that are synthesised from pregnenolone are known to be implicated in both mood and behaviour via their effects on the nervous system. Pregnenolone levels are known to be substantially lower in people who suffer from depression or who have a history of depression
• Women’s health; As pregnenolone converts into DHEA which in turn converts into estrogen, pregnenolone may offer post-menopausal women a natural estrogen replacement therapy. But, even before reaching the menopause, pregnenolone may be of use to women, particularly if they suffer from PMS. This is because pregnenolone can boost progesterone levels and progesterone is especially useful in helping to overcome PMS. Furthermore, unlike DHEA supplementation, pregnenolone is less likely to lead to an increase in testosterone. Increased testosterone levels can lead to a woman experiencing distressing masculine side effects such as increased facial hair
• Treatment for arthritis; Pregnenolone has been used since the 1940’s as an alternative to mainstream medications for the treatment of arthritis although the advent of more powerful anti-inflammatory drugs has lessened its use in this regard. It is particularly effective in treating the joint inflammation associated with the disease
Other uses for pregnenolone therapy include the reduction of allergic reactions and the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriasis and scleroderma.
Dosage
Pregnenolone is available in two pack sizes - pregnenolone 5mg sublingual and pregnenolone 100mg.
Dosage is dependent upon the reason for taking pregnenolone:
• For anti- ageing purposes; Daily doses of about 25mg (maximum 50mg) are suggested
• For arthritis; Daily doses should be in the region of 100mg to 300mg
• For senile dementia; Daily doses of 300mg to 600mg
• For mood enhancement and as an anti depressant; Daily doses of 50mg to 200mg
• For enhancement of detoxifying enzymes; Daily doses of 25mg to 200mg per day
Caution and Warnings
Pregnenolone is known to have antagonistic effects on GABA receptors in the central nervous system, and may cause problems in people with a history of seizures.
Pregnenolone can convert into a number of different metabolites. At present there is no definite way of ensuring conversion into particular metabolites. Therefore, pregnenolone supplementation may increase the levels of progesterone and DHEA and possibly levels of other hormones such as testosterone and estradiol although it is thought that pregnenolone is less likely to convert into testosterone than DHEA. Some testosterone may convert into estrogen. To help prevent this, it is recommended that an estrogen detoxification agent such as DIM is used if pregnenolone is taken on a regular basis.
No well-known drug interactions have been reported with pregnenolone.