DHEA Side effects - Dehydroepiandrosterone

Natural steroid hormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands found atop of the kidneys in the human body. DHEA is also produced in the gonads, adipose tissue and the brain. DHEA is structurally similar to, and is a precursor of, androstenedione, testosterone and estrogen. It is the most abundant hormone in the human body.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is the sulfated version of DHEA, - this conversion is reversibly catalyzed by sulfotransferase (SULT2A1) primarily in the adrenals, the liver, and small instestines. In blood, most DHEA is found as DHEAS with levels that are about 300 times higher than free DHEA. Orally ingested DHEA is converted to its sulfate when passing through intestines and liver. While DHEA levels reach their peak in the early morning hours, DHEAS levels show no diurnal variation. DHEAS is biologically active only after its sulfate group has been split and it becomes DHEA again.From a practical point measurement of DHEAS is preferable to DHEA as levels are more stable.

Only in humans is DHEA the dominant steroid hormone. Humans produce DHEA in greater quantity than any other species. Even non-human primates have not much more than 10% the relative serum level of DHEA seen in humans. The fact that rodents produce so little DHEA makes the results of experiments based on these laboratory animals very controversial.

DHEA production is very high during fetal life by the fetal adrenal glands, declines after birth and remains low during childhood. Production begins around 6 years of age, increasing in quantity until peaking in early adulthood, around the age of 25, and declines afterwards to approximately 10% of peak levels by age 80. It is theorized by some that this decline may be due to reduced oxygen and glucose supply to the adrenal glands as a result of age-related atherosclerosis.

In a simple view DHEA can be understood as a prohormone for the sex steroids. Its DHEAS variation may be looked at as buffer and reservoir. Its production in the brain suggests that is also has a role as a neurosteroid. As most DHEA is produced by the zona reticularis of the adrenal, it's is argued that there is a role in the immune and stress response. DHEA may have more biologic roles.

As almost all DHEA is derived from the adrenal glands, blood measurements of DHEAS/DHEA are useful to detect excess adrenal activity as seen in adrenal cancer or hyperplasia, including certain forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome tend to have normal or mildly elevated levels of DHEAS.

The significance of the hormone in health and disease is not fully established. It is postulated that DHEA supplements are beneficial in the prevention of:

cardiovascular disease
diabetes
hypercholesterolemia
obesity
multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's disease
disorders of the immune system
depression
osteoporosis

It is also commercially advertised that DHEA:

helps decrease insulin resistance
improves fat metabolism
increases immune system function
has anti-aging properties
increases lean muscle mass

DHEA and DHEAS are readily available in the United States, but not in many other countries.

Supplementation with DHEA has been shown to decrease insulin resistance. (Kawano H, Yasue H, Kitagawa A, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation improves endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Jul;88(7):3190-5.)
Long term supplementation has been shown to improve mood and relieve depression. (Wolkowitz OM, Reus VI, Roberts E, et al. Antidepressant and cognition-enhancing effects of DHEA in major depression. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1995 Dec 29;774:337-9)

Some assert that DHEA should not be supplemented outside specialist centres under careful observation of experts in the field of endocrinology.Side effects may include:

extensive growth of body hair, or hirsutism
male pattern baldness

I hope you have enjoyed this DHEA side effects page.

This article is licensed under the [GNU Free Documentation License]
It uses material from the [Wikipedia article "Dehydroepiandrosterone".]

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