DHEA | by Designs for Health 5 mg x 180 caps or 25 mg x 60 caps
DHEA 5-Dehydroepiandrosterone (5-DHEA) is a 19-carbon endogenous natural steroid hormone. It is the major secretory steroidal product of the adrenal glands and is also produced by the gonads and the brain. DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans. Levels of DHEA are quite high at birth, drop during childhood, and peak during young adulthood. The levels continue to drop throughout life. This hormone is available synthetically. It acts as a substance in the synthesis of other important hormones and plays a key role in a variety of physiological responses. Because DHEA levels decrease with age, people above middle age can have incredible results as the studies above have shown.
The steroid hormone intermediate, DHEA, has been proposed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity. Its effects on lipogenesis, substrate cycling, peroxisome proliferation, mitochondrial respiration, protein synthesis, and thyroid hormone function have been reported.
The results of these studies suggest that the antiobesity function of DHEA is not simply one of inhibiting fat synthesis and deposition but is one of affecting a number of pathways that contribute to the maintenance of the isoenergetic state rather than the promotion of positive energy balance.
DHEA plasma levels drop steadily with aging, which may be due to:
- lowered availability of the precursor pregnenolone (also declines with age)
- lowered ACTH (stimulation signals from the brain)
- inadequate sensitivity of adrenals or other tissues that manufacture DHEA
- adrenal gland atrophy
Conditions that may lower DHEA production are: excessive mental or physical stress (usually characterized by increased cortisol level), alcohol consumption, dieting, malnutrition, vegetarian diets (especially soy consumption).
- RESEARCH SHOWS THAT DHEA MAY SUPPORT WEIGHT CONTROL:
- stimulates fat burning, reduces abdominal fat storage
- increases metabolic rate through the stimulation of thermogenesis and by supporting the lean body mass.
- reduces insulin resistance
- STRESS SUPPORT:
- reduces the stress hormone cortisol and reduces some of its catabolic effects on bone and muscle
- DRUG TREATMENT SUPPORT
- reduces the side-effects from corticosteroid therapy
- SEXUAL HEALTH:
- enhances female libido
- supports erectile function through improved nitric oxide levels and facilitated testosterone binding to albumin
- SKIN HEALTH:
- increases epidermal thickness and hydration, sebum production, decreases facial skin pigmentation
- IMMUNE FUNCTION:
- improves immune response to infections and reverses its age-related decline
- may reduce the severity of auto-immune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, psoriasis
- alleviates allergies
- BRAIN:
- improves the sense of well being and reduces certain types of depressions
- has a mental stimulating effect (counteracts the inhibitory effects of GABA neurotransmitter)
- MENOPAUSE/PERIMENOPAUSE:
- reduces hot flashes,supports vaginal tissue
- supports bone health
- sense of well being, libido
- AGE-RELATED CHANGES:
- restores declining IGF-1 levels
- corrects age related changes in immune system, skin, bone & muscle strength and sexual health.
- OTHER CONDITIONS:
- may alleviate chronic fatigue
- has a mild blood thinning effect
DHEA supplementation may increase DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels. This is due to both its conversion to testosterone and the fact that DHEA upregulates the activity of 5AR (5-alpha-reductase) enzyme, which further converts testosterone to DHT. As a consequence, some women may experience a slight increase in hair loss, especially if their estrogen levels are low.
