DHEA is vital to health

Dehydroepiandrosterone (pronounced dee-hi-dro-ep-i-an-dro-stair-own), or more commonly called DHEA, is the most abundant steroid found in the human blood stream. It is also one of the most reliable bio-markers of aging.

DHEA is secreted by the adrenal glands, and also produced in the gonads (testes and ovaries), and brain. It is sometimes called the "mother of all hormones" because it is the building block from which estrogen and testosterone are produced, and is vital to health.

Thousands of scientific articles have been published on DHEA during the last 50 years, but a clear picture of its role in human health didn't begin to emerge until the 1990's.

DHEA exhibits an amazingly wide diversity of effects

DHEA has been reported to have anti-diabetic, anti-dementia, anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-stress, immune-enhancing, anti-viral and anti-bacterial, anti-aging and anti-heart disease effects. ^{1 2 3} In addition, research has shown that DHEA:

• is an antioxidant
• is a hormone regulator (it helps regulate the thyroid & pituitary glands, and enhances thymus gland function)
• decreases cholesterol
• stimulates the production of human growth hormone
• boosts immunity by stimulating killer cell activity
• increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin
• assists in returning the body to a balanced state after a stress reaction
• improves cognitive function, bone formation and libido
• enhances mood by increasing the brain's serotonin levels

DHEA levels decrease with age

Your DHEA levels vary throughout your life, and naturally decline as you get older. We produce large amounts of DHEA when we're young, and research shows that children's brains require a significant amount of DHEA to grow and develop. DHEA levels peak at age 25 and decline at a rate of about 2% a year, thereafter. It isn't until the mid-forties, however, that we being to feel the effects of lower DHEA levels. By age 80, most people's DHEA blood levels are only about 15% of where they were during the 20s. By the time we're 90, DHEA levels are down to 5%.⁴

According to Michael Galitzer, M.D., co-founder of the American Health Institute in Los Angeles, California, symptoms of a DHEA deficiency include: poor memory, poor resistance to noise, anxiety, decreased libido (especially in women), decreased armpit and pubic hair, and dry skin, eyes or hair.⁵

Very low levels of DHEA have been linked to cardiovascular disease in men, some cancers, trauma, and stress; low levels are also associated with old age, particularly in the unwell, institutionalized elderly. Research has also shown a correlation between low DHEA levels and a declining immune system. Also, Alzheimer patients have exhibited low DHEA levels, when compared to their healthy counterparts.

Other factors that contribute to decreased DHEA levels

• disease
• sugar
• nicotine
• caffeine
• alcohol
• nutritional imbalances
• a vegetarian diet low in cholesterol and healthy fats ⁶

DHEA supplementation

Replacement of low levels of DHEA through regular supplementation has been proposed as a way to indirectly slow down the aging process and improve quality of life. In addition, DHEA is known to stabilize nerve-cell growth and is being tested in Alzheimer's patients. And since you can't obtain DHEA from food, supplementation is recommended in order to maintain adequate levels for optimal health.⁷

In animal studies, replacing DHEA has had startling anti-aging effects. Large doses of the hormone have restored older animals' strength and vigor.

How does DHEA work in the body?

Although it's still unclear exactly how DHEA works, scientists believe this is what happens: Circulating through the blood stream in an inactive form called DHEA sulfate, this hormone becomes active when it comes in contact with a specific cell or tissue that "needs" it. Consequently, the sulfate is removed and it is then converted to androgens and estrogens.

One of DHEA's most over-looked, but vital roles may be its ability to counter-balance cortisol — when DHEA is low, cortisol levels are high and vice-versa. Cortisol, one of the few hormones that usually increases with age, induces stress. And when it circulates at high levels for long periods of time it may affect many bodily functions, including damaging insulin resistance and the endocrine system, and the hypothalamus. Maintaining healthy levels of DHEA for aging and stressed individuals may be its most important role due to its ability to lower cortisol levels.^{8 9}

Recent studies highlight DHEA's role as "molecular superpower"

DHEA is currently being used in the fight against HIV, cancer and senile dementia. Here are a few study highlights:

Immune protector

An important DHEA study published in 1997 demonstrated the effects of DHEA on the immune systems of nine healthy "age-advanced men" (mean age: 63). The men were given 50 mg of DHEA daily for 20 weeks, after a two-week treatment with a placebo. The results showed that DHEA rejuvenated the immune system by increasing the number and potency of natural killer cells, which normally decrease (in numbers and potency) with age — and which are a key part of the immune system, constantly on the look out for viruses and cancer cells. There were no adverse effects noted from the DHEA.¹⁰

Comparable findings were reported in a similar study with eleven postmenopausal women.¹¹

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