DHEA- Helping to keep the body as healthy as possible for as long as possible

DHEA, or to give it its full name, dehydroepiandrosterone, is an endogenous steroid hormone. Endogenous simply means that it is made within the body. It is produced and secreted by the adrenal glands - the star shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys – although, in men, a certain amount of DHEA is made and secreted by the testes. DHEA is produced from cholesterol.

DHEA was first isolated back in 1984. However, its actual function within the body is still not yet fully understood. Scientists initially thought that it had no biological activity of its own but it is now known that this not the case. It is the precursor that is responsible for the production and regulation of a number of steroid and sex hormones including androstenedione, testosterone and estrogen.

During the first few years of life, very little DHEA is produced. Production only really gets underway at the age of 6 or 7, peaking in the mid 20s by which time DHEA (and its related metabolite DHEA-S) is the most abundant hormone in the body. A steady decline in DHEA production begins in the early 30s so that by the time you reach the age of 75 you only have, on average, 20% of the DHEA in circulation that you would have had 50 years earlier. At all ages, men tend to have higher DHEA levels than women.

Research has shown that declining levels of DHEA maybe correlated to a number of aging conditions and taking DHEA to enhance declining levels may provide a multitude of benefits not only for specific issues such as boosting the immune system but also for more general benefits such as improving well being and overall physical condition.  DHEA is considered to be a powerful anti-aging supplement.

In the following sections we will explore the potential benefits of DHEA supplementation:

Boosting the immune system

As we age, our immune systems become weaker making us more susceptible to the development of disease and infection. Researchers have demonstrated that a correlation exists between declining DHEA levels and this decline in the immune system. Consequently, DHEA supplementation may be of use not just in providing increased protection against everyday infections but may also be of use for those suffering from potentially fatal diseases such as HIV and cancer.

Counter-balancing cortisol levels

Unlike most other hormones, cortisol levels actually increase with age. But increasing levels of cortisol can be very destructive. If cortisol circulates throughout the body at high levels for long periods of time it can have a damaging effect on many bodily functions. For example, cognitive performance can become impaired, thyroid function suppressed, blood sugars can become imbalanced, blood pressure can rise, immunity can become lower and abdominal fat can increase (and there are numerous detrimental health issues connected with increased abdominal fat).

DHEA can help to counter-balance cortisol levels and indeed using DHEA to lower cortisol levels may be DHEA’s most critical role particularly in terms of aging, helping to keep the body as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

It may also be of particular use to those suffering from stress because cortisol is also released in higher amounts when the body becomes stressed.

Improving cognitive function and mental clarity

It has been clinically demonstrated that DHEA helps brain neurons establish contact. DHEA can therefore be helpful in allowing us to regain mental clarity and enhance our cognitive functions.

Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease have also been found to have low DHEA levels. DHEA is therefore being considered as treatment for senile dementia. It may also be of use for those suffering from depression.

Assisting in Weight control

DHEA appears to have an effect on body weight. DHEA is a weak androgen that has anabolic properties and it is these properties that make DHEA an important adjunct to weight control. It is known that DHEA can help to increase muscle mass and strength as well as help the body to effectively burn calories for energy. It may therefore be useful for obese people and for those with weight control issues.

Preventing cancer

As DHEA levels decline with age, so the incidence of cancer increases. Boosting our immune systems may play a crucial role in helping to prevent cancer from developing but more specifically researchers have found that DHEA can inhibit the proliferation of myeloma cells and the IL-6 production of bone marrow cells. IL-6 is a marker of inflammation and unwelcome in cell proliferation in cancer.

Preventing the loss of bone mineral density

Osteoporosis is a significant medical problem for an aging population, particularly for women. Fracturing bones that have become weakened is not just painful but is also implicated in increased mortality rates. Research has shown that DHEA treatment can not only help to prevent bone mineral density loss, but that it may even help to restore some of the bone that has been lost.

Improving cardiovascular health

Initial studies have reported that DHEA supplementation may be beneficial for those patients with cholesterol plaques ("hardening") in their arteries. These plaques can lead to blood clot formation, heart attacks, and stroke.

Assisting SLE (systemic lupus erythmatosus) sufferers

Boosting DHEA levels may also be helpful to those suffering from SLE as it can help to reduce fatigue, improve thinking abilities, and generally improve the quality of life.

In summary, by helping to relieve stress, increasing sexual libido, enhancing our capacity to think more clearly and improving the feeling of well being, coupled with such things as boosting immunity, DHEA supplementation can help to improve the overall quality of life.

Dosage

5 mg to 50 mg daily- dependent upon the need, your bodyweight and your sex. Note that 7-keto DHEA does not convert to androgens (and therefore not into testosterone or estrogen). Because DHEA 7-keto does not convert into androgens, it may be more suitable for women, especially those experiencing the menopause, because it avoids the possibility of ‘testosterone side effects’ such as facial hair and acne which may become apparent when using other forms of DHEA

DHEA is available in a number of different forms:

DHEA 5mg sublingual

 1-3 tablets should be taken daily. They should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.

Consult a doctor or health professional before using this product if you have a family history of breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, heart disease, low HDL cholesterol or if you are using other dietary supplements, prescription or over the counter drugs.

Do not exceed the recommend dose. Exceeding the recommend dose may cause changes in liver function, acne, hair loss, hair growth on the face, aggressiveness, irritability, increased levels of estrogens.

Discontinue use and contact your doctor if you experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, blurred vision or similar symptoms.

DHEA 7-keto

Doses of 7-keto DHEA are 25mg to 50mg daily with occasional breaks.

DHEA 7-keto is specifically targeted towards the immune function. In addition, it does not convert to androgens (and therefore not into testosterone or estrogen). As a final metabolite DHEA 7-keto is thought to be two and a half times more potent per mg than other forms of DHEA.

Because DHEA 7-keto does not convert into androgens, it may be more suitable for women, especially those experiencing the menopause, because it avoids the possibility of ‘testosterone side effects’ such as facial hair and acne which may become apparent when using other forms of DHEA.

DHEA 50mg