DHEA

DHEA
Common Names
DHEA
Chemical Names
DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone

Description
The most abundant steroid in the bloodstream produced mainly in the adrenal glands. It is a prohormone that produces other hormones.

Active Substances
Dehydroepiandrosterone

Standard
DHEA 100%

Contraindications / Toxicity
DHEA is contraindicated for men with known or suspected prostate cancer. Since some DHEA is converted in the body into testosterone, DHEA supplementation may possibly aggravate prostate enlargement. Women with reproductive cancers or reproductive precancerous conditions should not use DHEA.

Suggested Use
A cautious strategy is to adjust amount taken to bring DHEA blood levels approximately in line with peak production levels of young adults, and not to exceed such levels. The average 20 year old male produces about 30 mg of DHEA per day; the average 20 year old female about 20 mg per day. By age 80, daily production of DHEA falls to about 5 percent of peak production. An approximate replacement dosage can be estimated by assuming a linear decline in DHEA production in the body between these ages. Testing for blood levels of DHEA before starting supplementation and periodically thereafter appears to be prudent. The half life of DHEA is about 10 hours. To maintain a relatively steady level in the body, it is recommended that if DHEA supplementation is 30 mg or more per day, that it be taken on a divided dose basis day, during the morning and late evening hours before bedtime. There is no clear indication that bioavailability is significantly different if DHEA supplementation is between meals or with meals.

DHEA

A special slow time release 50 mg tablet that releases over approximately an eight hour period to give the proper amounts of DHEA, instead of the usual 25 mg in the first two hours it is like taking several low doses over the same period but ...all you take is one. DHEA is well known and documented to help the body in several ways.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: In 1988, studies indicated DHEA protects against viral and bacterial infections including: Enterovirus and other Herpes infections, Lupus, MS, MD, and ALS. It is known that DHEA increases the T-cell and B-cell count. Studies have also shown that DHEA reduces the replication of the AIDS (HIV-1) virus.

ANTI AGING AND WEIGHT LOSS: The principal indicators of aging is degenerative diseases, DHEA appears to be the best biomarker of longevity and aging. Diabetics seem to have low levels of DHEA. Dr. Arthur Schwartz, of Temple University Medical School, in the 1980's produced tremendous interest in the possibility of using DHEA as a weight loss therapy. Recent research has begun to show how DHEA exerts its extraordinary weight loss effects. Other studies in 1992 further showed how DHEA blocks certain fat causing enzymes leading to substantial weight loss.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: In 1993 a study shows how sick animals had great reductions of Athroscelerous using DHEA. DHEA reduced plaque by almost 50%.

LEARNING, MEMORY AND ALZHEIMER'S: Other studies have shown that DHEA is exceedingly low at ages when the incidences of Alzheimer's Disease begins to increase markedly. DHEA may play a significant role in maintaining the function of neuronal cells, and DHEA supplementation may prevent neuronal loss and/or damage, thus slowing the progress of Alzheimer's Disease (Bologna, 1987). Other studies have shown that small concentrations of DHEA can enhance neuronal survival in the brain cells of a mouse. Therefore, the conclusion may be that DHEA compounds might help in the treatment of neurodegenerative memory disorders in man (Roberts, 1987).

DHEA AND DEPRESSION: Subjects suffering from depression were given various forms of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy. The DHEA-S levels of 47 subjects showed a positive correlation with rating scale improvement as the depression was relieved (Tollefson, 1990).