DHEA: The Mother Hormone
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a plentiful but only vaguely understood steroid-like substance secreted by the adrenal cortex. It circulates in the bloodstream in quantities thousands of times greater than the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone. All of the specific roles of this substance in the body are not yet conclusively known.
DHEA is structurally similar to other steroid homones (such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) but it possesses its own spectrum of biological effects. DHEA can be converted into other hormones, including estrogen, testosterone and cortisone, but it is not merely a "buffer hormone," a reservoir which the adrenals could draw upon to produce more of these other hormones. Scientists have shown that cells contain specific DHEA receptors the sole function of which is to bind DHEA. This demonstrates that DHEA is more than just a buffer hormone and that it has functions of its own in the body.
More Than 90 percent of DHEA is converted to DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) prior to circulation. DHEA-S may convert back to DHEA, convert to other hormones, or stimulate the production of other hormones by the ovaries, testes, etc. DHEA and DHEA-S are, for the most part, functionally interchangeable. There are some significant differences, which will be noted later.
DHEA exists in the body in higher quantities than any other hormone. Levels in the body peak around age 21 and slowly decline over the years. DHEA production can decrease 80-90 percent by the age of 75.
It is known that DHEA converts to or stimulates the production of estrogens, testosterone, progesterone, cortisone, and the many other steroid hormones as the body needs them. In a sense, DHEA, as a pre-hormone, can be called the "mother hormone." It also acts as a buffer hormone that interacts with other hormones.
DHEA is found in the brain at high concentrations. Many of its effects are related to the nervous system of which the brain is the core. This would lead us to believe that DHEA and at least some of the brain functions are closely correlated.
Abnormal patterns of DHEA in the body accompany and often underlie several disease states and dysfunction. These include: Chronic Depression, Chronic Infections, Osteoporosis, AIDS, Hypoglycemia, Hypo and Hyper Adrenal Function, Stress Response, many types of Cancer, Obesity, Hypothyroidism and Alzheimer's.
SOME DHEA FACTS:
DHEA converts to or stimulates the production of estrogens, testosterone, progesterone, cortisone, and many other steroid hormones as the body needs them.
Levels of DHEA production in the body vary according to stress, fever, sudden low blood sugar, and disease states. DHEA levels are lower among smokers than among nonsmokers, and lower among heavy drinkers than among non-drinkers. Birth control pills and other synthetic hormones also deplete DHEA.
Levels of salivary steroids accurately reflect fluctuating DHEA levels in the body. Salivary DHEA concentration is about 0.1 percent of its plasma concentration.
Men produce about 31 mg DHEA daily, women, about 19 mg.
DHEA has a half-life of 8-11 hours.
DHEA is found in the brain in very high concentrations equal to that in the adrenal cortex.
Abnormal patterns of DHEA accompany and often underlie several disease states and dysfunction.
DHEA Provides Alternative Pathway
DHEA is a mother load of some 10 different steroidal hormones associated with youth. We all know that with increasing age women suffer from decreased estrogen production and men from decreased testosterone production. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRP), providing synthetic estrogen to women and synthetic testosterone to men seems to help alleviate some of the problems associated with aging. Because there are so many different hormones circulating about the body, supplementation of just one or two hormones causes an imbalance and side effects occur.
While estrogen has shown to have beneficial cardiovascular effects progestins exert a detrimental effect on blood lipids by increasing LDL and reducing HDL cholesterol. Without progestin, prolonged estrogen therapy increases the risk of endometrial cancer. In summary, balance of all circulating hormones is the key. In the long run, imbalance promotes sickness and aging.
DHEA provides an alternative pathway to the gonadal hormones such as testosterone, estrogens and also cortisone. It is necessary for at least 18 different steroidal hormones. It is self regulating. Only those hormones needed are produced.
In addition to its precursor function in the formation of testosterone and estrogens, supplemental DHEA has been shown to lessen many age related symptoms in both human and animal studies and it dramatically extends life spans of rodents. This may be in part due to its effects on hormone syntheses but DHEA also has additional biologic properties.
DHEA is under close scrutiny as an anti-obesity treatment in women and for its anti-cancer influences.
DHEA: Biologic and Clinical Action
In the body, DHEA has action through the steroids it creates and also directly through its own cellular receptors.
DHEA effects the entire endocrine system by regulation through enzyme inhibition or activation. This means, it can stimulate the production of other hormones, of most significance, estrogen by the ovaries and testosterone by the testicles.
DHEA has demonstrated broad beneficial potential in many detailed studies on prevention of carcinogenesis, tumor growth, radiation, skin hair, aging, prolactin, pregnancy, hypertension, thyroid function, bone growth, and effects on CNS behavior and response.
Anti-Aging Effects of DHEA
DHEA is rapidly becoming known as the anti-aging miracle of the 21st Century. It reaches its highest concentration during puberty and declines as the body ages. It is necessary for at least 18 different steroidal hormones associated with youth. These include estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, and testosterone. Levels of these hormones decline with age. Studies show that testosterone (synthetic, of course) injected into males, can actually dramatically decrease biological age, decreasing many of the symptoms of aging. The same is true for women and estrogen. Thus, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was conceived. Even better, the introduction of DHEA.
DHEA Has Multiple Effects on the Body
DHEA is converted into other hormones by the body and therefore acts as a precursor or a pro-hormone. DHEA has been called a "buffer hormone" that interacts with other hormones. DHEA gives rise to the sex steroids as well as additional hormones, which have a wide variety of physiologic functions. If the levels of a particular sex hormone are low, DHEA can stimulate its production through either the appropriate gland (ovaries or testes) or through biosynthesis.
The varied action of this hormone is based upon the particular physiologic setting of the individual. DHEA appears to work in widely divergent systems against a variety of targets, depending on the state of the host.
DHEA regulates diabetes, obesity, carcinogenesis, tumor growth, virus and bacterial infection, stress, pregnancy, hypertension, collagen and skin integrity, fatigue, depression, memory and immune responses.
The Known Actions of DHEA Include:
Regulates hormones through specific or non-specific hormone receptors.
Inhibits an antiproliferative enzyme, G-6-PD.
Increases fat metabolism through thermogenesis.
Decreases desire to eat, possibly through it effects on insulin.
Decreases stress reaction.
Stimulates T-lymphocytes / Enhances interleukin 2 production.
Anti-osteoporosis / Improves calcium absorption.
Anti-inflammatory.
Production of DHEA
Adrenal corticotropic hormones (ACTH) and other non ACTH regulatory components control adrenal steroid secretion. External factors such as stress and illness play significant roles in determining output (57 percent reduction in DHEA levels following ACTH stimulus due to chronic stress, 77 percent reduction due to chronic illness).
The following internal factors play a role in DHEA production:
Genetics: About 65 percent of production is related to heredity.
24-hour Circadian Variation: Account for daily fluctuations of 13 percent.
Seasonal Circadian Variation: An increase in plasma concentrations of DHEA can be seen during the winter months.
Age: Levels of DHEA production increase through puberty, peaking between age 20 and 25. After this time production slowly diminishes.
Lower levels of production decreases health and lower levels are associated with dysfunction including:
Psychosomatic Disorders
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Stress Induced Disease
Chronic Depression
Reduced Immunity
Chronic Infections
Osteoporosis
Hypoglycemia
Diabetes
Stress Response
Hypothyroidism
Alzheimer's
AIDS
Alzheimer's patients have 46 percent lower levels of DHEA than age-matched controls and have an elevated level of cortisol. Elevations of cortisol levels are shown to be damaging in animal studies. DHEA administration is known to improve memory function in aging animals.
DHEA levels were significantly elevated in men who had survived heart attacks at least five months earlier. Men with at least 50 percent coronary blockage on angiography, but with no heart attacks, had normal DHEA values. DHEA levels may be a marker for underlying protective effects or be a protective substance itself.
Note: Individuals who suffer from chronic elevated ACTH and hypercortisol with Cushing's disease do not experience increased DHEA levels.
Effects of Stress on DHEA
Exercise: Strenuous exercise such as running, swimming, football, weight lifting, etc. Increases serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEA in both men and women. In contrast, marathon runners (1100Km for 20 days) show no change in DHEA and a return to normal cortisol levels after completion of a 24-40-week training program.
Hypertension: DHEA excretion rates through the urine were significantly decreased by 85-95 percent below controls in clinically hypertensive patients. Further patients. Further investigation revealed that circulating DHEA levels were not different in hypertensive individuals when compared to their age matched control.
Emotional Stress: Stressful events such as anticipated death or surgery of a family member, hospital admission, public speaking, mental performance testing, residence relocation in the elderly, depress DHEA production. The Cortisol/DHEA ratio in individuals with panic disorder is depressed by about 50 percent.
Obesity: The cortisol secretion rate is increased in obese individuals. Production rates of DHEA are higher than normal in obese individuals. However, circulating DHEA levels remain unchanged due to an accelerated metabolic clearance rate.
Diversion of the precursors for both cortisol and adrenal androgens reduces DHEA output. This may be due to nutritional factors, stress, illness, chemical alteration through drugs, etc. Cholesterol is one of the precursors for DHEA.
Diet: Vegetarian diets and the intake of saturated and unsaturated fats do not significantly effect DHEA levels. However, decreases in other steroids such as Androstenedione, extrone and estradiol have been reported.
Drugs: A number of drugs, not only pharmaceuticals, but also alcohol and tobacco, lower levels of DHEA, probably due to the increased stress on the body. Intake of synthetic steroid hormones also lowers DHEA levels. Birth control pills especially have a detrimental effect.
Both our physical and emotional health is adversely affected by stress. Because stress cannot be completely eliminated, we must learn how to guard our bodies and minds against the harmful effects of stress.
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