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Vitamins and Supplements / What is DHEA?
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DHEA is the short name for dehydroepiandrosterone.
DHEA is a hormone made chiefly by the adrenal glands, but it can also be made by the testicles, ovaries, and brain. Humans are thought to make between 1 and 2 mg of DHEA and 10 to 15 mg of DHEAS (the sulfate metabolite) per day (1.) DHEAS is formed in the liver by adding a sulfate(SO4) molecule to it. DHEAS is cleared much more slowly by the kidneys and blood levels of this metabolite remain much more stable throughout the day. When researchers want to assess blood levels of DHEA they often measure the sulfate form because of its greater stability.
When you take DHEA by mouth some will circulate as free DHEA, but most will be converted to DHEAS by the liver.
DHEA was first discovered back in 1934. Since then thousands of articles have been published on this hormone. Unfortunately, only a small number of these studies have involved human subjects.
The first study involving humans and probably responsible for generating much of the initial hype was published back in 1994. In this study, researchers wanted to know what would happen to middle-aged volunteers if they were given 50mg of DHEA nightly for three months(2). According to the researchers there was an increase in subjective feelings of physical and psychological well-being.
After the results of this study were published, there was a outpouring of publicity. TV, radio, and newspapers all did stories and segments on it. Fueling this enthusiasm were dozens of previous studies, almost all conducted in rodents, that reported beneficial effects in treating heart disease , cancer, lupus, and other conditions.
It wasn't until 1995, when DHEA could be bought over the counter, that it's popularity with the general public soared.
Many physiological changes occur as our bodies age. Decreased muscle mass and bone formation are just two consequences of aging. Hormone levels also decrease as we age. Many "anti-aging" enthusiasts believe that these changes can be halted or reversed by restoring and/or replacing certain hormones.
Some of the claims by these "enthusiasts" center around DHEA's ability to improve the following conditions.
1. Reverse or slow down the aging process.(3)
2. Enhancement of mental function.(4), (5).
3. Improve muscle strength/mass (6)
4. Improve cardiovascular health.(7)
5. Strengthen immune function.(8)
6. Prevention of Osteoporosis.(9)
It is probably naive to think that one hormone could have so many beneficial properties in the human body. For example, while it is true that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can be of benefit to postmenopausal women in the areas of osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease, it is not without its risks in other areas. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) could also increase a woman's risk for endometrial cancer.
When dealing with hormones it is necessary to be able to weigh the pros and cons. Unfortunately with most studies on DHEA done on rodents it is difficult, if not impossible to accurately predict what will happen in a human being. Until more long term studies are done with human subjects and DHEA most users of DHEA should proceed with caution. Any decisions to use DHEA should be made after consultation with an experienced endocrinologist who knows the individuals health history.
Most side effects are dose related. Side effects including, but not limited to, the following have been reported.
Common side effects-
1.Acne and excessive facial oiliness.
2. Facial hair growth in women. Scalp hair loss in both men and women.
3. Irritability, mood changes, and insomnia.
Serious side effects-
1. Heart irregularities
2. Possible stimulation of hormone sensitive cancers (prostate, breast, ovarian, uterine).
Dosage - DHEA is available in a variety of forms. The most common form is oral capsule followed by sublingual. Some physicians will get a baseline hormone panel before starting therapy and others will just assume low levels (if patient is middle-aged) and begin therapy immediately. The initial starting dose is typically 5-20mg per day to see if there are any benefits. If side effects occur the dose may be lowered or discontinued. The goal of most physicians is to elevate DHEA levels to youthful levels, not to supraphysiological concentrations.
Since DHEA is fat soluble it is considered best to take it with meals.
Since the adrenal glands naturally make the most DHEA in the morning some practioners have advocated taking DHEA in the morning. This is a crude attempt to minimize feedback inhibition of natural hormone secretion. Whether this actually works or not is anybody's guess.
Drug interactions
1. estrogen - possibly reduction in dosage of estrogen due to DHEA being converted to estrogen itself.
2. aspirin - DHEA can act as a mild blood thinner. Aspirin and anti-coagulant dosages may have to be decreased.
3.Antidepressants - Since DHEA is purported to elevate mood in some individuals the dosage of antidepressants might have to be reduced.
4. Heart medicines - DHEA is not recommended for anyone with a propensity to heart irregularities.
All too often, the media is quick to label various supplements and treatments as miracles and cure-alls that lead to the fountain of youth. While some supplements may offer health benefits we must always keep a skeptical eye on bold claims that promise too much. Often companies try to use anecdotal evidence and individual testimony as iron-clad evidence that their product works. It is only after carefully controlled clinical trials that we can label a supplement, substance, or drug effective for its intended purpose. Sometimes even after passing such rigorous scrutiny we still find out years down the road that a certain drug causes long term damage or harm in some regard. Clearly there are too many variables from person to person to entrust the safety of a product solely on individual testimony and anecdotal evidence.
And then there's the question of studies. While studies are fine if taken in their context, i.e., why was the study being done?, then this can be helpful. But ANYONE who is doing a study is looking for SOMETHING and if that something is to to sell the public something so that MONEY becomes the motivation, then my conclusion is that this is the wrong reason to to do the study in the first place.
Another thing about studies; show me a study that says this and that about something and I'll find you a study that says the opposite. Which brings me to the most sensible solution and the reason why I use Standard ProcessŪ products. Royal Lee was a researcher and his quest was to find out what made people HEALTHY, not what would make someone a quick buck. If you take Standard ProcessŪ products, you're not getting some lab synthesized chemical that has pharmaceutical effects. The effect is to NOURISH the body, not hype it up nor slow it down. Take a look at the companies that are selling synthetic supplements and just look if they're not part of some multi-level marketing program that has several studies backing up their slant so that the product sells. I think you'll find this to be the case many times over.
The supplements we supply that have DHEA effects do not have synthesized DHEA in them. Instead, for example with Drenamin or Whole Dessicated Adrenal, we are supplying you with the gland that is in trouble. The body repairs itself so that it can produce it's OWN DHEA. Standard Process products do not have the purpose of giving your body something that does not occur in the foods that you eat. There lies a huge difference in the approach in treating people with human ailments and conditions.
While the possibility exists that DHEA may have some benefit, more research needs to be done. Currently no information is yet available on the proper dosage. While it is a naturally occuring steroid hormone, its precise mechanism of action has not yet been fully illucidated. It's safety with regard to hormone sensitive cancers has not yet been fully determined. Until some of these questions have been answered, it is probably best to stay away from this hormone for now. Stick with WHOLE FOOD supplements from Standard ProcessŪ.
(1) Longcope C. Metabolism of DHEA. Ann NY Acad Sci (1995):774:143-148.
(2) Morales A, Nolan J, Nelson J, Yen S. Effects of replacement dose of DHEA in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1994) 78:1360-7.
(3) Guazzo E. Cortisol, DHEA, and DHEAS in the CSF fluid of man: Relation to blood levels and the effects of age. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (1996): 81:3591-3960.
(4) Kimonides VG, Khatibi NH, Svendsen CN. Dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) protect hippocampal neurons against excitatory amino acid-induced neurotoxicity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1998): 17; 95(4):1852-7.
(5) Majewska M. Neuronal Actions of DHEA: Possible roles in brain development, aging, memory, and affect. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (1995): 774:111-120.
(6) Barrett-Conor E, Ferrara A. DHEA, DHEAS, obesity, waist-hip ratio, and noninsulin-dependent diabetes in postmenopausal women: the Rancho Bernado Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1996):81(1): 59-64.
(7) Herrington D. DHEA and coronary atherosclerosis. Ann NY Acad Sci (1995):774:271-280.
(8) Okabe T, Upregulation of high affinity DHEA binding activity by DHEA in activated human T-lymphocytes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (1995) 80 (10):2993-6.
(9) Labrie F, "Effect of 12-month dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone, vagina, and endometrium in postmenopausal women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (1997): 82:3498-3505.
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