DHEA, also known as dehydroepiandrosterone is manufactured in the adrenal glands and this hormone breaks down in the body into testosterone and estrogen in men and in women. Dr. Arthur Schwartz from Temple University believes that DHEA shows promise as an anti-cancer agent and has found that DHEA protects laboratory animals from cancers of the breast, lung, colon, liver, skin, and lymphatic tissue.

DHEA has been linked to a reduction in fear. It has been noted that DHEA operates as an anti-glucocorticoid. The negative physiological process of fear is dependent on activity in the hippocampus, which is known to be dense in glucocorticoid receptors.

DHEA replacement therapy has been shown to reduce the rate of breast cancer by 73% in a study where rats where given a mammary cancer-inducing substance called DMBA. The breast cancer rate in control animals remained at 95% compared to 27% for those with DHEA supplementation.

DHEA has been shown to significantly enhance immune function. In a study by SS Yen, with 9 health men with an average age of 63 years old taking 50mg. per day of DHEA orally over a 20 week period, post DHEA immune function was significantly enhanced. Levels of 13 different immune agents were increased by 20 to 62%.

DHEA supplements have been shown to increase energy levels, enhance memory and cognitive functions, reduce the ill effects of stress, improve immunity to diseases (including cancer), decrease body fat, enhance sex drive and possibly even extend life, improve mood.
In several animal models, DHEA was shown to provide 100% protection against the potentially lethal effects of stress on the immune system. In recent human studies, DHEA has been shown to significantly activate immune function and DHEA has powerful immuno-enhancing properties.

DHEA has been called the "ultimate antioxidant" and it has been suggested that DHEA can block cancer during its early stages in animals.

It is important to note that Standard Process® products do not contain synthetic DHEA. Instead, the products we supply can help your body produce adequate amounts of DHEA when they are repaired. An article regarding DHEA can be found here.