It is a steroid like the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone, and has been known since the 1930's.
DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands, in the brain and in the skin, on the basis of cholesterol, and it is the hormone of which the body produces most.
Its function seems to be that of converting itself into other hormones, such as oestrogen and testosterone, when the body needs it. The production in the body decreases with age. Already around the age of 40, the level has dropped to half the amount present at the age of 20, and at the age of 70, the level will have dropped with about 80% compared to the maximum level.
Under normal circumstances, the hormone production in the body is regulated by a feed-back system which increases and decreases respectively, concurrently with the amount of hormones in the blood. This means that a hormone supplement will lower the body's own production of hormones. This feed-back system is not found in case of DHEA. Therefore, a DHEA supplement will not lower the body's own production of it.
DHEA is produced as a dietary supplement and can be bought without a prescription in the USA. It is made from wild yam tuber and has become very popular in various countries, used for different age-related problems. Research reports of increased energy, improved sleep, high spirits, improved capacity for thought, improved ability to cope with stress, better sex life, improved immune response, and, finally, DHEA can help you lose weight and improve the effect of insulin in the body. Trial subjects taking DHEA in doses of 50 mg. a day for 6 months, experienced a reduction in the amount of subcutaneous fat on the stomach by an average of 6%.
There is no indication that the body is provided with DHEA if you eat yam tubers.
DHEA supplements is a controversial subject. It is reported that large doses of DHEA can cause acne, hair loss on the scalp, increased growth of beard, and a deeper voice in men. Furthermore, it is NOT RECOMMENDABLE to use DHEA in the following situations: before the age of 40, in case of hormone related disease, in case of breast cancer, cancer in the prostate, and increased growth of the prostate (prostate hypertrophy), pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Some surveys, however, have shown that DHEA can inhibit cancer when taken in large doses.
DHEA is broken down in the body in the course of 8 hours.
DHEA supplements should be taken along with antioxidants in connection with meals, but only if tests have shown that the level in the body is low.
A proposed dosage of DHEA is :
Men: 5 - 25 mg a day.
Women: 2 - 15 mg a day.
Further information
www.lef.org
