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List of Partners vendors. Dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA is a steroid hormone available in dietary supplement form. Found naturally in your body, it's made in the adrenal glands. The DHEA found in dietary supplements is a synthetic form of the hormone, produced from diosgenin, a substance found in soy and wild yams. In your body, DHEA is converted into male and female sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. Since low levels of DHEA have been detected in some individuals with conditions like diabetes , breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis , and kidney disease, DHEA supplements are also commonly used as an alternative remedy to treat or prevent such conditions.
DHEA is also said by some to slow the aging process, improve sports performance, enhance libido, promote weight loss, and bolster the immune system. In addition, DHEA supplements are frequently marketed as testosterone-boosting agents and used for such purposes as increasing muscle mass and reducing fat mass.
Despite many purported uses of DHEA supplements, there is conflicting evidence supporting its benefits. Here's a look at some of the available research:. Scientific studies evaluating DHEA's effects on bone health have yielded mixed results. Research on DHEA and osteoporosis includes a study published in the Journal of Bone Metabolism in , in which researchers measured the bone mineral density of healthy men and women and found that those with the highest blood levels of DHEA had a significantly higher bone mineral density compared to those with the lowest DHEA levels.
On the other hand, a study published in Osteoporosis International in suggests that DHEA supplements may improve bone mineral density in women but fail to enhance bone health in men.
In this study, healthy adults ages 55 to 85 took either DHEA supplements or a placebo every day for one year. At the study's end, DHEA appeared to have had a positive effect on some measures of bone mineral density in female participants. Male participants, however, showed no significant changes in bone mineral density following treatment with DHEA.
DHEA may be of some benefit in the treatment of depression, according to a research review published in Current Drug Targets in In their analysis of 22 previously published studies, the review's authors found that DHEA supplementation was generally associated with significant improvements among patients with depression.
What's more, the review found that DHEA may relieve depressive symptoms in people with conditions like schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa. Early research indicates that DHEA might have effects in the treatment of a number of other health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, menopausal symptoms, and metabolic syndrome. Because DHEA is a hormone, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner.
Children and pregnant or nursing women should not use DHEA. If not used under supervision of a physician and dosed incorrectly, DHEA side effects may include abdominal pain, acne, breast tenderness, deepening of the voice in women, facial hair growth, fatigue, greasy or oily skin, hair loss, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, irregular or rapid heartbeats, irregular menses, male pattern baldness, mood disturbance, nasal congestion, shrinkage of the testicles, skin itching, urinary urgency , increased aggression, and weight gain around the waist.
DHEA may alter the production of cholesterol and hormones such as insulin, thyroid hormones, and adrenal hormones. People with liver disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, blood clotting disorders, hormonal disorders, or hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer and prostate cancer should take caution when using DHEA.
Those with a history of heart disease or stroke should avoid DHEA supplements. In older people, lower than normal levels of DHEA have been associated with osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss, and breast cancer. Plus DHEA supplements vary widely in quality. Many products tested don't have the amount of DHEA in them that the label says they do. Also, DHEA supplements can have side effects.
They may lower levels of HDL "good" cholesterol in the body, and in women they may raise levels of testosterone, as well as estrogen. The DHEA in supplements is a synthetic hormone, so you should talk to your doctor before taking it. Other studies suggest that DHEA helps reduce inflammation in the arteries and reduce arterial stiffness.
Studies link low DHEA levels with an increase in heart disease. Researchers aren't sure whether supplementing with DHEA is safe or reduces risk. Lupus or SLE is an autoimmune disorder.
That means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue. Several studies show that taking DHEA along with other medications helps improve quality of life for people with lupus, though it probably does not change the overall course of their disease.
Several studies have found that some people who take DHEA supplements may be able take less prescription medication.
DHEA may also reduce the frequency of flare ups, enhance mental function, and boost bone mass in women with lupus. One study found that a lower dose -- 20 to 30 mg -- might also work. Most of these studies have been small. So more studies are needed to determine whether DHEA is safe and effective for people with lupus. DHEA is one of the hormones made by the adrenal glands. With adrenal insufficiency, the adrenal glands do not make enough hormones, including DHEA and cortisol.
That happens either because of problems with the pituitary gland or damage to the adrenal glands themselves also called Addison's disease. Several studies suggest that taking DHEA may help improve mood, fatigue, and well being. In one study, women with this condition who took DHEA supplements reported improved sexuality and sense of well being, including fewer feelings of depression and anxiety.
Adrenal insufficiency requires a doctor's care. You shouldn't take DHEA on your own for adrenal insufficiency. Severe adrenal insufficiency can be a medical emergency, especially when first diagnosed.
A few studies of people with major depression found that DHEA improved symptoms compared to placebo. The results aren't entirely clear, and researchers don't know what the long-term effects of taking DHEA might be. More research is needed. DO NOT try to treat depression by yourself. People with depression need medical care. Preliminary studies suggest that DHEA may help reduce bone loss in older women.
It doesn't seem to have the same effect in men. And in one study it didn't help women who were under age Studies using DHEA to treat overweight people have found conflicting results. Animal studies have found DHEA to help reduce body weight.
Human studies found that taking DHEA didn't change total body weight. But it did improve total body fat and LDL "bad" cholesterol. However, more research is needed to know whether DHEA really helps. Research suggests that DHEA may help improve sex drive in older women but not younger women. More studies are needed. Since DHEA levels decline with age, some researchers have investigated whether taking DHEA supplements could slow or prevent age-related mental or physical problems.
People in the study didn't have any improvement in muscle function and strength. Another study found that men and women over 60 who took DHEA for 2 years didn't have any improvement in bone density, muscle strength, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life.
But other studies have not found any improvement. And these levels decrease even more as the disease progresses. DHEA has been popular among perimenopausal women, seeking relief from menopausal symptoms, including decreased sex drive, diminished skin tone, and vaginal dryness. Studies have been mixed. Preliminary studies show DHEA supplements raised levels of some hormones in postmenopausal women. However, DHEA supplementation in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women is controversial.
Clinical studies show conflicting results as to whether DHEA can improve sexual function, metabolism, and overall well being.
More studies are needed to determine whether DHEA is safe and effective. People who believe in using DHEA claim that it relieves menopausal symptoms without increasing the risk of breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus -- unlike prescription hormone replacement therapy, which does increase risk of these cancers.
But there is no proof that DHEA does not also increase risk of these cancers. People with a history of cancer, or who are at high risk for cancer should not take DHEA without their doctor's supervision. DHEA can be converted into either estrogen or testosterone in the body, which may be dangerous for women or men with a history of hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast or prostate cancer.
Women with breast cancer tend to have low levels of DHEA in their bodies.
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