Four Letters: DHEA
Raw Materials for Hormones
DHEA is a natural hormone or rather a pre-hormone. Its main purpose is to provide the raw material for your body to make hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It is made in the adrenal glands and is the most abundant hormone (or pre-hormone) in the body.
Hormone Decline
In women, DHEA is the main building block for estrogen, the primary female hormone. In women, estrogen peaks in the 20s and then declines with age. By the time a woman reaches 70, estrogen levels are less than a quarter of what they were at the peak.
Production Marker
DHEA is one way to measure how good your adrenal glands are working. Lower DHEA production means less effective adrenal glands. Often, the problem is not the adrenal glands themselves but the gland that sends the production signal to the adrenal glands. The production signal is sent by the pituitary gland.
Raw Material Bottleneck
Because it is a precursor to hormones, DHEA won’t raise your hormone levels if you already have enough available. As we age, our DHEA and hormone levels decline. In that case, having additional DHEA may improve your testosterone or estrogen levels.
Hormones on Your Mind
Like many hormones, DHEA can influence brain function. DHEA seems to protect neurones in the brain. This may be why some claim that DHEA can keep you young, although there is no evidence that taking DHEA extends life. DHEA also has an effect on mood. In tests with rats, DHEA has been shown to improve memory. It is not known if this will translate to humans.
Getting Low
Low levels of DHEA are linked to some health problems such as high blood pressure and even diabetes. There is even a remarkable link between a feeling of wellbeing and the level of DHEA. And in women, lower levels of DHEA are linked to osteoporosis as well as lower bedroom desire. Taking DHEA has not been shown to reverse these effects.
DHEA Pills
DHEA capsules are made from a plant substance called ‘diosgenin.’ The source for this is often yams or soybeans. Diosgenin is a compound that can be used to make several hormones. In fact, it was once used to make birth control pills. Through a chemical process, the compound can be changed into DHEA.
DHEA Dangers
One danger of DHEA is it can interact with other medications. Specifically, it can affect certain drugs for mental illness or seizures. Taking DHEA can reduce the effectiveness of these drugs. And, as it is a hormone precursor, it can interfere if you are taking hormones.
DHEA is Restricted
One big barrier to taking a DHEA supplement is you can’t buy it in Canada. The sale of DHEA is restricted in Canada. It is considered a controlled substance and is only available with a prescription. The reason it is restricted is DHEA may increase the risk of cancers that are linked to hormones. Cancers, such as prostate and breast cancer, can be affected by hormone levels. In the US, DHEA is sold as a supplement and is widely available in stores and online.
DHEA Booster
One way to naturally increase your DHEA is with exercise. This is particularly true for older women, and the effect is largest with exercise that strengthens the muscles, such as core exercises or squats.
Hormones for Health
Hormones are an important part of health. They affect almost all areas of our body, including our mind. If you are over 40 and not feeling like yourself, you might want to get your hormone levels tested and go over your options with a doctor. Both men and women may benefit from supplemental hormones as we age.
