14.16: DHEA
- Page ID
- 84119
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DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. DHEA is converted to DHEAS, testosterone, estrogen, and other steroids plus unknown substances.
Effects
The functions of DHEA and DHEAS are unknown. Levels of DHEA and DHEAS in rats, mice, and most other research animals are very low and do not show age-related changes like those found in humans. Therefore, research on DHEA and its possible effects in humans is limited.
Age Changes
Between conception and birth of a child, the child's blood levels of DHEA rise to almost adult levels, dropping to almost zero as birth approaches. During childhood, DHEA levels rise until age 20, after which they gradually decline throughout life. DHEAS levels show a similar pattern.
DHEA Supplementation
Like melatonin, using DHEA supplements has become popular. DHEA is inexpensive, easy to obtain and can be taken orally. Though it is a hormone, its sale and use are not regulated like most other hormones. People take melatonin to slow, stop, or reverse age changes. Some reports suggest it can slow, stop, or reverse aging and age-related diseases in the circulatory system, nervous system, muscle system, skeletal system, and immune system and cancer growth. However, research reports reveal contradictory results depending upon many variables (e.g., age, sex, other hormone levels, dosages, animals used).
Hazards from DHEA and DHEAS supplementation include increasing certain age changes and age-related diseases, unbalancing other hormones, promoting cancers, and unpredictable effects from the unregulated production and testing of DHEA and DHEAS supplements.