Synthetic form of adrenal hormone
precursor that declines with age.
DHEA is a human “master” pre-hormone made
in the adrenal glands. Supplemental DHEA
is used by the body over a period of
several hours to produce other hormones to
balance the body’s control systems. The
body seems to be able to use supplemental
DHEA beyond what the body manufactures on
its own. It can enhance insulin
sensitivity and immune system function.
Our levels of DHEA start to decline at
about age 25 until at age 75 they are down
to 10-20% of peak. People who use DHEA
report feelings of youthfulness, improved
mental acuity and muscle definition.
Research: In a double-blind trial,
DHEA supplementation did appear to reduce
some of the adverse effects of aging,
though it did not create
"supermen/superwomen." 1 In
that trial, healthy elderly women and men
were given either 50 mg of DHEA or a
placebo daily for one year. In addition to
a re-establishment of more youthful levels
of DHEAS, slight increases were also
observed in other hormones, such as
testosterone and estrogens. In women over
70 years of age, bone mineral loss was
improved. A significant increase in most
measures of libido was also seen in these
older women. Improvements of the skin were
also observed in both women and men, but
particularly in women.
(1) Baulieu EE, Thomas G, Legrain S, et
al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
2000;97:4279-84.
