DHEA
Dehydroepiandiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most plentiful adrenal androgen; young men produce approximately 33 mg of DHEA a day, young women produce about 19 mg of DHEA per day. The concentration of DHEA sulphate in the plasma is several times greater than that of any other hormone. Other tissue concentrations of DHEA can be even greater, for example the brain has two to four times DHEA than the blood.

DHEA is the main precursor for estradiol and testosterone. Circulating levels are closely associated with aging, dropping nearly five dash fold from a peak at age 20 – 25 to a low at age 70 – 80. Various diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, AIDS, autoimmune disease (i.e. lupus), alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, thyroid disease, and diabetes have been associated with low circulating DHEA levels.

It has been suggested that measures which increase circulating DHEA levels such as exercise, proper diet, stress reduction, and/or supplementation can ameliorate some of the diseases associated with low DHEA levels, especially the generalized debilitation associated with aging. Although such debilitation is multifactorial, measurement of DHEA allows identification of low levels as a possible contributing factor and a means to follow specific intervention.

DHEA Deficiency SIGNS & SYMPTOMS