What is DHEA?
April 12, 2011 by Dr. Marc Darrow, M.D.
Filed under DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally produced steroid made by the adrenal glands. It is derived from cholesterol and when metabolized in the liver, a sulfate is added converting it into DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S).
DHEA is made in greater quantities than any other hormone in the body, it reaches its peak levels while we are in our early 20’s and then begins a dramatic drop to 20% of those levels by the time we reach age 70. It is this drastic drop in the body’s most prevalent hormone that led researchers to conjecture that DHEA may play a very large role in the disease and aging process.
Clinical Use
As part of our Age Management program, DHEA is given in its oral form, and in typical doses of 25-50 mg a day for men, and less for females depending on their baseline levels.
Typically DHEA supplementation is started after the age of 40 but earlier in cases of deficiency and apparent symptoms warranting testing (chronic fatigue, and immune system disorder among others). The goal of DHEA supplementation, like all hormone addition, is not to over supplement but to gently fine tune the body’s levels. Like all hormone supplementation, we check blood levels 12 weeks after initiation of therapy to insure proper dosing.
As part of an age management program our goals are to:
– Increase quality of life
– Increase vitality and energy
– Facilitate weight loss (if needed)
– Decrease Fat
– Increase memory function
– Increase sex drive and performance
– Enhance the immune system function
– Lower overall risk of disease such as heart disease and diabetes mellitis
It must be stressed that DHEA is not a self-administering supplement, and that blood tests and careful monitoring are needed to determine proper dosage.
