Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

The main functions of dehydroepiandrosterone

• Increases energy production and libido.
• Reduces the amount of fatty tissue.
• Improves mood.
• Counteracts stress-relieving hormones.

Theoretical foundations

In popular magazines, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is called the "youth hormone."

DHEA and its precursor dehydroepiandrosterone-3-sulfate (DHEAS) are the most abundant steroid hormones in adult men and women. DHEA was isolated as an androgenic steroid in 1934, and DHEAS was isolated from urine in 1944. Studies show that circulating DHEAS levels peak between the ages of 20 and 30 and decline by approximately 20% for each decade of life.

Researchers speculate that some age-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease, may be associated with age-related declines in DHEA and DHEAS levels. Although the physiological roles of DHEA and DHEAS are difficult to understand, it is recognized that DHEA is a precursor to testosterone and estradiol. Given this role, company agents claim that DHEA supplements will increase testosterone production, stimulate libido, increase lean body mass, and slow the aging process.

Results of dehydroepiandrosterone studies

DHEA supplementation has been shown to have an anti-obesity effect in animal models, but the mechanism is still unclear. One theory is that decreased DHEA levels correlate with increased insulin levels. Gore studied the effects of DHEA supplementation on insulin sensitivity and body composition. The study involved 10 volunteers who were given 1,600 mg of DHEA daily or a placebo for 28 days. No significant differences were found in insulin sensitivity or changes in body fat mass. The age of the volunteers was not disclosed and may have been a limitation of the study.

Morales et al. examined the hypothesis that age-related declines in DHEA and DHEAS contribute to a shift from an anabolic state in young adults to a catabolic state in older adults. Thirteen men and 17 women aged 40 to 70 years were given 50 mg DHEA for 6 months. Within 2 weeks, DHEA levels had increased to young adult levels. Serum androgen levels (androstenediol, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone) were elevated in women, with only a modest increase in androstenediol in men.

Insulin sensitivity and body fat were unchanged in both groups, but physical and psychological well-being were enhanced. No changes in libido were reported. The researchers noted an increase in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), a hormone that decreases when catabolic processes predominate. The increase in IGF-1 and the apparent lack of side effects suggest that DHEA may be a therapeutic option for older adults.

Morales et al. studied the effects of higher doses of DHEA. Nine men and 10 women aged 50 to 65 years took 100 mg of DHEA for 6 months. The researchers monitored plasma hormone levels, body fat (using X-ray absorptiometry), and muscle strength. The results showed increased DHEA and DHEAS concentrations in both men and women.

Androstenediol, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone levels increased only in older women and reached levels typical of young women. As in the previous experiment, IGF-1 levels increased in both men and women. Body fat mass, leg muscle strength, and lumbar spine strength increased in men, but not in women. The researchers concluded that the benefits of DHEA administration were gender-specific in favor of men.

Recommendations for the use of dehydroepiandrosterone

Although DHEA is marketed as a safe alternative to illegal anabolic hormones, it is still considered an androgenic steroid. Adverse reactions associated with DHEA use include acne, liver enlargement, unwanted hair growth, irritability, prostate enlargement, and masculinization in women. Because of its potential effects on testosterone levels, the US Olympic Committee and the NSA have banned the use of DHEA.

The indiscriminate use of DHEA by young athletes (who compete in adult competitions) is worrisome because the long-term effects have not yet been determined. Like other hormones, DHEA may not show any harmful effects for many years. However, individuals with a history of breast or prostate cancer should not take DHEA.

Athletes should completely ignore the claim that wild yam (Dioscorea) supplements provide the "building blocks" for DHEA. Yams do contain a plant steroid ring called diosgenin, which is a processor for the semi-synthetic production of DHEA and other steroid hormones. But this conversion only occurs in the laboratory. The claim that Mexican yam supplements increase DHEA (or testosterone) production in the body is baseless.