DHEA Hormone - Anti Aging Drug?
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone that is produced naturally in the body. It is produced by the adrenal glands. The levels of the hormone peak when people are in their twenties and then start to decline. DHEA aids the body’s production of eighteen steroid hormones including the stress hormones and the sex hormones. It also helps the body burn fat, build lean muscle and stimulate bone growth.
The DHEA that is sold in supplements comes from wild yams and can only be produced in the laboratory. A deficiency in DHEA may leave people more vulnerable to certain cancers, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, impotence and other age related conditions.
DHEA is natural hormone but
there are also supplements.
People take DHEA supplements for many reasons. It is supposed to aid in weight loss by decreasing ones appetite and desire for fatty foods. It is also supposed to protect against many cancers including colon, liver, breast, skin, prostate, ovarian and testicular.
DHEA is supposed to improve cognition and memory. It is also reported to improve mood, increase energy, enable you to better handle stress and help you sleep. It protects against impotence and may help with menopausal symptoms.
As numerous tissues in the body turn DHEA into testosterone or DHT and these hormones play important role in sexual function, many men are looking for androgen replacement therapy, in most cases DHEA therapy to improve their erectile function.
It is said to be the “anti aging drug”. Is it safe? If it does all these things should everyone over thirty be taking it? There are some safety considerations.
Taking high doses of DHEA over long periods decreases the body’s ability to produce its own DHEA.
High DHEA levels could be associated with liver damage and an increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer. Talk with your doctor before you start any supplementation to see if it is safe for you.