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|
| Proper name |
Dehydroepiandosterone |
| Category |
Steroid hormone |
| Functions |
DHEA is a 19-carbon steroid hormone which serves as
a hormone precursor to estrogen, testosterone and other
steroid hormones. It is the most abundant circulating
steroid hormone and it has a key role in a variety of
physiological processes. DHEA appears to inhibit corticosteroids,
reducing stress-related injury. Many chronic diseases
associated with aging appear to be related to declining
levels of DHEA. |
| RDA |
None |
| Therapeutic
dose |
Many studies have used 50 mg/day for women and 100 mg/day
for men, though doses as low as 5-10 mg/day for women
and 10-20 mg/day for men have demonstrated effect. Treatment
of systemic lupus erethematosis requires doses of 50-200
mg/day to show and effect. |
| Deficiency symptoms |
Deficiency of DHEA is associated with age-related declines
in energy level, mood, memory, appetite, graying of
hair and some skin conditions. Animal studies demonstrate
DHEA inhibits cancer of the breast, colon and liver.
Human studies indicate that pre-menopausal women with
breast cancer have lower than normal DHEA levels while
post-menopausal women with breast cancer have higher
than normal levels of DHEA, suggesting that supplementation
with DHEA may be more appropriate for pre-menopausal
women. DHEA prevents immune suppression caused by viral
infections. A study of 108 HIV-infected men showed those
with low DHEA levels were 2.3 times more llikely to
progress to AIDS than those with normal DHEA levels.
DHEA has provided symptomatic improvement in patients
with SLE (lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hemolytic
anemia, multiple sclerosis, food allergy, asthma, multiple
chemical sensitivity and hereditary angioedema. Men
with low serum DHEA are more likely to develop ischemic
heart disease while women with high levels of serum
DHEA are more likely to develop ischemic heart disease.
DHEA is associated with increased bone density (protection
from osteoporosis) in women but not in men. Animal studies
suggest that DHEA can help to protect against insulin
resistant diabetes. |
| Toxicity |
At doses of 50-100 mg, DHEA may produce breast tenderness,
reversible hirsutism (facial and body hair) in women
and mild to moderate acne. Doses above 1,500 mg per
day have been shown to produce insulin resistence in
humans and pre-neoplastic pancreatic lesions in rats.
Persons with or at risk for hormone dependent cancers
(such as breast, ovaarian or prostate) should avoid
using DHEA until further research establishes safety.
|
| Best
forms
|
Not known |
| Food
sources |
None |
| Lab
tests |
Serum DHEA and DHEA-S |
| Drug
interactions |
DHEA may increase the action of benzodiazepines and
also thyroid hormones. |
| Nutrient interactions |
None known |
| Metabolism |
DHEA is made in the adrenal glands and to a lesser
extent in the brain, skin, testes and ovaries. It
is made from pregnenalone and can be converted to
estrogen, testosterone and other steroid hormones.
DEA is metabolized into sex hormones in the liver
and the skin. DHEA levels decline by more than 60
percent with the onset of menopause. In men, levels
decline beginning around age 40. By age 70, DHEA levels
are about 20 percent of their level in young adults.
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