DHEA Supplement
DHEA Supplement benefits and side effects. DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone (de-hydro-epi-andro-sterone). This is abbreviated as DHEA. DHEA is an ordinary hormone steroid, formed from cholesterol which sits atop of each kidney by the adrenal glands. Testosterone and estrogen are the similar dehydroepiandrosterone chemical used to convert those hormones. The production of DHEA is quite low in the body of both men and women, for the first few years (under the age of 5 years). DHEA starts churning out at the age of 6 to 7 years. At early adulthood (at the age of 20 to 25 years) dehydroepiandrosterone production is at peak. There is a steady decline in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone around the age of 35 years and after. Once reaching the age 65 to 75 years, the body's production of dehydroepiandrosterone is nearly 20% lower. At all these stages of ages, women tend to have lower rate of dehydroepiandrosterone production as compared to men. Many problems which are associated with aging are thought to be related with low levels of DHEA production in their body. A DHEA supplement is sometimes recommended to help fight the effects of aging. Although the lower levels of DHEA are believed to be a significant causal factor in the development of problems associated with age, there has been no scientific evidence until now. Also, there is no evidence to prove that increasing DHEA slows down or decline or even reverses the aging process. For the past few years, some advertisers have promoted taking a DHEA supplement as a phenomenal weight loss product and cure-all. DHEA had seemed to be very effective in controlling fat in rats and mice. Results found by other rodent studies suggested that DHEA might also help prevent some age related health issues. The results of studies on human beings have not yet duplicated these test results. DHEA supplements are being promoted as having therapeutic effects in many chronic situations, even with the shortage of enough scientific evidence about dehydroepiandrosterone. The body of knowledge about the Health benefits and side effects of DHEA is quite limited but still it has shown some remarkable properties in experiments. The bottom line is, this looks promising but there is no solid scientific proof yet. DHEA Side Effects and Dangers Using dehydroepiandrosterone supplements for long-term may be beneficial as well as risky. Even the FDA is not sure about the DHEA supplements. It is still being looked at. A Dehydroepiandrosterone supplement does not affect each individual in the same way. The long term use of dehydroepiandrosterone supplements may increase testosterone, which in men might lead to prostate growth and in women might lead to facial hairs. To increase estrogen may also increase the risk of breast cancer. To increase testosterone may also increase the risk of prostate cancer. A person should take dehydroepiandrosterone supplements only after getting a blood test from a doctor and only under the continued supervision of a doctor. As according to insubstantial evidence, self
medicating with an intake of a daily DHEA supplement without
doctor supervision may pose a health risk. Please talk to your
doctor before taking DHEA. |