Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Description:

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone secreted mainly by the adrenal glands and to a lesser extent by the testes and ovaries.

Physiologic Therapeutics:

• Blocks the action of cells to divide uncontrollably
• Converts to estrogen and testosterone
• DHEA-S (DHEA's ester) has digitalis-like activity in rabbits
• Enhances immune response to viral infections
• Enhances immune system function
• Enhances libido for both men and women
• Fights stress due to an increase in cortisol
• Improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance
• Improves memory
• Increases lean body mass
• May exert an inhibitory effect on bone resorption
• Prevents chemically-induced colon and liver cancers and skin papillomas in mice studies
• Reduces depression caused by cortisol
• Stimulates bone formation and calcium absorption

Clinical Indications:

• Aging prevention
• AIDS
• Alzheimer's disease, in female patients
• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• Diabetes mellitus
• Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)
• Insomnia
• Menopause, hot flashes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Cancers, especially colon and liver
• Dermatomyositis

Dosage:

• Dosage: 5-25 mg. until DHEA-D levels reach 250 for women and 300 for men

Labs:

• DHEA-S
• Salivary DHEA

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• DHEA may antagonize the effects of cortisol

Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:

• Avoid if patient has hormonally sensitive cancer, including prostate and breast cancers
• Relatively safe
• Rarely in extremely large doses:
  
  Mild hirsutism
  Moderate acne

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).