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DHEA
Description: DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Blood levels of DHEA decrease with age, and this reduction is associated with aging-related problems.
DHEA is an unusual hormone, in the fact that it affects different people in extremely different manners.1 Its effects are completely different from men to women, and even from premenopausal to postmenopausal women.2 It appears to be responsible for as much as half of men’s testosterone and over three-quarters of women’s’ estrogen.3 In men, it appears to help reduce fat mass without lowering total body weight;4 it does not, however, have this effect on women.
DHEA has been reported to help in treatment of depression. Studies of this have been inconclusive, however, and its possible effect of causing further depression or mood swings make it a less than optimal treatment choice.
DHEA levels are often low in lupus patients. Supplementation with 200 mg daily appears to decrease disease activity and cause patients to notice an improvement.5

Natural Sources: DHEA is found in the herb Mexican Wild Yam. However, the body is extremely inefficient at changing the form found in this herb into a usable form, so it is not an effective means of supplementation.

Useful in treatment of: lupus.

Recommended Dosage: 200 mg daily for treatment of lupus. Up to 30 mg daily for other uses.

Contraindications: DHEA supplementation has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian,6 breast,7 and prostate cancers.8

References:

1Weksler ME. Hormone replacement for men. BMJ 1996;312:859–60 [editorial].
2Ebeling P, Koivisto VA. Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone. Lancet 1994;343:1479–81.
3Labrie F, Belanger A, Simard J, et al. DHEA and peripheral androgen and estrogen formation: Intracrinology. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995;774:16–28.
4Vogiatzi MG, Boeck MA, Vlachopapadopoulou E, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone in morbidly obese adolescents: effects on weight, body composition, lipids, and insulin resistance. Metabolism 1996;45:1101–15.
5Derksen, R. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 1998 Jun;27:335-47
6Skolnick AA. Scientific verdict still out on DHEA. JAMA 1996;276:1365–67 [review].
7Zumoff B, Levin J, Rosenfeld RS, et al. Abnormal 24-hr mean plasma concentrations of dehydroisoandrosterone and dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate in women with primary operable breast cancer. Cancer Res 1981;41:3360–63.
8McNeil C. Potential drug DHEA hits snags on way to clinic. J Natl Cancer Inst 1997;89:681–83.
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