DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE (DHEA)

WHAT IS DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE?

DHEA stands for Dehydroepiandrosterone. DHEA is a steroid hormone. DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands (located just above the kidneys), gonads (the testes or ovaries) as well as by the brain and the skin, and is the most abundant steroid in the human body. Often called "the mother of hormones" it is an androgenic hormone produced from cholesterol and leads to production of all of the other sex hormones. It’s a steroidal hormone and a precursor hormone, similar to pregnenolone. From these two hormones, all the other steroid hormones are made.

By age 65 we are producing about 10-20 per cent of the DHEA our bodies was manufacturing at age 20. This drop in DHEA levels correlates dramatically with the signs and "symptoms" associated with ageing. One of the predominant features associated with DHEA deficiency in humans is obesity.

DHEA CAUSES

  • improvement in energy levels
  • improvement in sleep
  • improvement in mood, feelings of relaxation
  • ability to handle stress

SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW LEVELS OF DHEA

  • Permanent fatigue
  • Poor memory
  • Poor resistance to noise
  • Low mood
  • Anxious
  • Poor sexual drive

STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THAT DHEA CAN

  • Improve memory and help control Alzheimer’s disease
  • Strengthen the immune system and protect against infection
  • Help prevent bone loss
  • Assist in protecting us from diabetes and autoimmune disease
  • Help to fight fatigue and depression and learning problems
  • Enhance feelings of wellbeing
  • Increase strength
  • Alleviate symptoms of menopause
  • Protect against heart disease by lowering cholesterol and preventing blood clots
  • Assist in weight loss and convert fat to lean muscle mass
  • Enhance libido
  • Stabilise blood sugar levels and help prevent onset of diabetes in adults
  • Lower blood cholesterol while improving liver function

DHEA levels are a key determinant of physiological age and resistance to disease. When levels are low, you are more susceptible to ageing and disease. Men have more DHEA than women. About half of DHEA is lost by men by age 40, in women by age 45.

DHEA – The Mother Hormone

For many years the function of DHEA was unknown. It was thought to be a buffer hormone – a storehouse from which the body could produce other hormones when needed. However, in recent years, DHEA has emerged as a player in its own right with therapeutic effects in many diverse medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, memory deficits, autoimmune diseases, immune disorders (including AIDS), chronic fatigue and osteoporosis.

LOW LEVELS OF DHEA CAN LEAD TO DEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Your body’s production of DHEA reaches a peak in your mid-20s and progressively declines from that point. By the time you’re 70 years old, your DHEA levels will only be 10 per cent of what they were in your 20s. It’s not surprising that depressed blood levels of DHEA sulfate (the value most commonly measured in DHEA blood tests) are a marker for many degenerative diseases.

BEWARE OF DHEA PRECURSORS

In recent years, a number of products have surfaced that claim to be "DHEA precursors". Most of them are made from the Mexican yam plant, which is rich in natural plant hormones and precursors to DHEA. However, there is no actual DHEA in these products. These products "may" elevate DHEA levels in the blood and it is not to say that these products are not beneficial, but it is not recommended to use them as a substitute for DHEA. All of the studies used to guide the decision to administer DHEA have used actual DHEA, not DHEA precursors.

A consultation directly with Dr Colagrande will be required to assess and discuss:-

  1. Signs and symptoms you are experiencing.
  2. Physical examination will be required.
  3. Extensive blood tests will be carried out.
  4. Radiological test (MRI/CT) may be required to exclude possible causes.
  5. Referral to a Endocrinologist may also be required. If you do become a candidate for therapy, regular visits and blood tests will be performed to monitor your progress. The aim is to improve symptoms by raising levels to a normal healthy range and not abusing medications for non medical or health and well-being purposes. Remember, therapy may be used as a possible trial to see if signs and symptoms improve and does not guarantee itself as a miracle cure. It is not approved by the Therapeutic Guides Administration for anti-ageing therapy.