DHEA is an acronym for Dehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid hormone that is generated by the adrenal glands in our body. The body then converts DHEA to estrogen and testosterone, the female and male sex hormones respectively. People in their twenties are known to have high levels of DHEA, which gradually reduces with age. This is the very reason why researchers are evincing great interest in DHEA and its role in our aging and obesity.
There is a strong belief that DHEA supplements have anti-aging properties. People suffering from complaints of breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, AIDS and osteoporosis have been seen to generate lower levels of DHEA. Some medications like insulin and corticosteroids have been known to act adversely on the levels of DHEA in the body.
Though DHEA is produced in our body naturally, DHEA supplements can also be prepared in the laboratory with the help of a substance called diosgenin – contained in soybeans and wild yam. Wild yam creams and supplements are sold as an original source of DHEA, but few people know that our body is incapable of converting wild yam into DHEA, and this conversion must be carried out for us in the laboratory. DHEA supplements are available on the market in the form of nutritional supplements, as they are known to play a vital role in anti-aging.
Studies have shown that a drop in DHEA levels in the body leads to a loss of muscle mass, decrease in bone density and a noticeable fall in immunity-related activities. People who take DHEA supplements have reported improvement in muscle mass, stamina and glucose tolerance. Studies are still in progress to strongly support this theory. Also, a clinical examination was conducted on people who were suffering from chronic depression and they were administered DHEA supplements for a period of six weeks or so. It was later noticed that these people showed visible improvements in their behavior compared to those who were given a placebo.
Similarly, studies have revealed that DHEA supplements play significant role in controlling and reducing obesity, osteoporosis, and menopausal problems and sexual dysfunction.
Scientists are also of the opinion that DHEA may improve brain function and improve bone mass in females who suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus, known as SLE, a type of autoimmune disorder which affects connective tissues in the body. An artificially created DHEA called prasterone is being examined to treat this condition. It is always advisable to take DHEA supplements under a physician’s guidance.
DHEA has proven to play a strong role in controlling obesity, and is included in powerful weight loss drugs like Phen375.