Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is derived from cholesterol. When a hormone is derived from cholesterol, it is considered to be a sterol, hence it is referred to as a steroid. DHEA, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are all beneficial, natural steroids. DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone in the human body.


DHEA Has Many Beneficial Effects

DHEA is the main building block needed by the body to manufacture estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. For years DHEA was felt to have no particular value other than as a precursor to our sex hormones. Now, researchers have discovered that DHEA drops steadily as we age and that it can be used as a biomarker to measure the aging process itself. In 2002, the National Institute of Health, published a study showing that the only two factors in human beings that have been shown to prolong life span are 1) caloric restriction, and 2) elevated levels of DHEA. Indeed, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine published in 1992 had demonstrated that low levels of DHEA were associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and that higher levels of DHEA were protective against heart disease and cancer. The main conclusion to be drawn from this evidence is that maintaining an optimal DHEA level is extremely important for maintaining optimal health and well-being.


What DHEA Does

DHEA improves the function of the immune system, improves brain function, relieves stress, and has been shown to be a very potent anti-cancer supplement. DHEA also increases energy and reduces both body fat and cholesterol levels and in doing so acts to prevent heart disease. DHEA does this by shifting the body from an energy-releasing, destructive or breakdown metabolism referred to as a catabolic state to an energy building, constructive metabolic, protein building, anabolic state. Over the years, there has been significant research published on DHEA’s critical role in our health and well-being. Today, DHEA is the focus of some of the most exciting medical research in this country.

DHEA has also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, this means that less insulin is required to metabolize sugar and maintain and protect our energy reserves and usage. This in turn results in protection against diabetes, and greater control over their diabetes for those people who either have a genetic possibility to become a diabetic or are already, a diabetic. DHEA has also been shown to have a significant effect in treating connective tissue disorders such as Lupus, a disease that tends to have minimal improvement from standard therapy. Pharmaceutical grade DHEA compound will soon be approved by the FDA to treat Lupus.

Most of the significant effects seen from using DHEA are based on its ability to stimulate protein synthesis within the cell. This in turn, results in an increase in cell regeneration and an improvement of immune function which prevents many disease processes from occurring. DHEA is an excellent antioxidant and works to prevent the formation of free radicals which cause cell damage and can lead to cancer.

Insulin resistance has lead to more then 14,000,000 Americans having some form of diabetes. Insulin resistance, or inability of insulin to do its job. This can result in an increase in blood sugar, weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. Any decline in DHEA can precipitate episodes of insulin resistance that can lead to damage of the cardiovascular system. Diabetics that have been given DHEA have shown a decrease in insulin resistance which prevents the harmful effects of insulin on the vascular system.


In 1995, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism stated that there were more than 2,500 papers published documenting DHEA̓s many benefits. This important paper acknowledges that we produce half of the DHEA at age 40 than we did when we were 20. Some elderly people, may produce no DHEA at all, this can put them at a significant risk for heart disease. DHEA was also shown to improve the quality of life and postpone many of the unpleasant effects of aging such as fatigue and muscle weakness. Patients receiving DHEA slept better, had more energy, and were better equipped to handle stress when compared with a placebo group that was not receiving DHEA. Other potential benefits of DHEA include immune system enhancement, anti-cancer effects, anti-atherosclerotic effects and cognitive memory enhancement.

DHEA is currently available over-the-counter in many drug stores, grocery stores and health food stores. Unfortunately, many of these over-the-counter products come from foreign countries and contain contaminants and preservatives, they are not pure pharmaceutical grade DHEA. The half-life of DHEA from over-the-counter sources is approximately six hours, which would require that one take the supplement three times a day. DHEA should be prescribed in a sustained release, micronized form, which allows for more complete absorption and sustained level for more than 24-hour period. This means that you will only need to take the DHEA supplement once a day. In addition, DHEA can also be obtained by prescription at compounding pharmacy. This will assure a 100% pure pharmaceutical product and better absorption.

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