DHEA

dehydroepiandrosterone

Miracle or Medicine? Used the right way,
DHEA may combat a variety of ailments,
from cancer to arthritis.

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If a little is good, alot is better. Well, when it comes to the hormone DHEA, this old saying is just wrong. If used in large quantities it could be down right dangerous. Even so, free-form DHEA is the latest miracle drug enticing consumers. It's touted as being an integral part of a sound disease-prevention program, and has indeed been shown effective in combating a variety of ailments such as arthritis, lupus, asthma, and HIV, in several studies. Make no mistake, DHEA is a powerful substance. When taken properly, it can bring dramatic health benefits to many people. But it can also have potentially negative effects in high doses.

That hasn't stopped some unscrupulous companies from marketing DHEA as the greatest fat burner available. This Sales tactic encourages the abuse of the product. So before you buy this product you should try to educate yourself on this product. Learn and understand the positive and negative effects the product can create and how the product creates those benefits.

Facts About DHEA

DHEA is a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. It circulates in the bloodstream in quantities thousands of times greater than any other hormone in the body. Because it is structurally similar to other hormones, DHEA acts as a raw material from which the body can produce more of the other hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen and cortisone, as needed.

However, DHEA has many of it's own unique functions. DHEA levels peak around age 21 and slowly decline over the years. Production of DHEA can decrease 80 to 90 percent by the age of 75. Men in their prime produce about 31 milligrams daily: women, about 19 milligrams.

If the levels of DHEA in a healthy person are compared to a person of the same age and sex who has a serious health problem, the healthy person will have much more DHEA circulating. In fact, individuals with cancer and also chronic fatigue report that their blood tests revealed that they had almost no DHEA.

Side Effects

DHEA is remarkably free of side effects when taken in the proper amount. But when taken in amounts greater than what the body needs, DHEA can produce several undesired effects, such as acne, facial hair on women, rapid heart beat, feeling of chest tightness, irritability, anxiety, headaches and sleeplessness.

If you experience any of these symptoms while taking DHEA, you should immediately reduce your intake. These unpleasantness should go away in a few days. For optimal results, contact a health-care practitioner familiar with DHEA who can monitor your blood levels. Remember, the healthier and younger you are, the less you need, because your body may still be producing adequate amounts. DHEA for healthy individuals under age 40 isn't recommended.

Animal studies show that extremely high doses of DHEA cause elevated liver enzymes and other abnormalities. No long-term studies have been done on humans to determine exactly what is a safe long-term dosage. Most people are so excited about all the benefits that they don't want to wait 15 or 20 years to find out. Taking antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid, silymarin (milk thistle extract) and glutathione can be a useful precaution to protect the liver if you do use DHEA.

Anti-Aging Dosage

As a part of an overall anti-aging and disease prevention program, the goal is to supplement the body's own production, bringing it to the level it was producing in your prime.

Begin with daily doses no higher than five to 25 milligrams, and remember that ideal supplemental DHEA dosage can vary dramatically from person to person. Age, sex and state of health are strong factors, but our ability to absorb and assimilate the hormone is also important. Normal intestinal absorption of a capsule is about 50 percent, but the amount decreases with age and with declining health.

Sublingual DHEA supplements are the best choice. About 90 percent of the hormone is assimilated within a few minutes. That's especially important for someone using DHEA to help with an acute problem such as arthritis pain, a lupus attack, an asthma attack, hay fever or sinus problems. DHEA is so powerful that people report relief from these situations in a matter of minutes with just two drops of a liquid (about 8 to 10 milligrams). You can also open a capsule and pour the contents under the tongue for faster assimilation.

Therapeutic Doses

Therapeutic doses for individuals with serious problems such as cancer, lupus, diabetes, HIV and chronic fatigue usually begin around 100 milligrams daily. No long-term human studies have been done to show this is a safe level. Individuals with medical problems using higher amounts, however, have not reported evident side effects.

DHEA And Fat Loss

One thing is irrefutable: High doses of DHEA dramatically affect fat loss. However, anything that has a dramatic effect on the body is causing great stress. While it may be more satisfying to see results quickly, this is not the optimal way to lose fat. Gradual weight loss is almost always more permanent and creates less stress on the body.

Though this is not recommended, the following will give you an idea of the tremendous power of DHEA: During one study, 1,600 milligrams of DHEA divided into four doses throughout the day were given to five normal-weight males. After 28 days, with diet and physical activity remaining normal, four of the five exhibited a mean body fat decrease of 31 percent with no overall weight change this suggested that muscle mass increased.

Lower and safer levels of DHEA also produce fat loss. While the results are less dramatic, they're much healthier for the body. One 50-year-old man reported losing 30 pounds gradually, which he attributed to the 50 milligrams of DHEA he had been taking for about eight years.

DHEA: Not For Everyone

DHEA is not recommended for men who have an existing prostate problem. High levels of testosterone are associated with the overproduction of the prostate cells, which result in prosthetic enlargement. Supplementation also isn't for men who are under age 40 who do not have health problems.

Availability

DHEA is available by prescription in the compounded sulfate form (DHEA-S), or over the counter in pure free-form capsules or liquid sublingual forms. In the body, DHEA-S and DHEA are interchangeable. Free-form DHEA has a shorter half-life of eight to 10 hours, compared to the 12 to 16 hours for DHEA-S. Free-form DHEA dosages may be divided, taking one-half in the morning when levels are at their highest and one-half in the evening to maintain a more even blood level.

This article was taken from an excellent Quarterly Magazine: Prime Health & Fitness.
Issues = VOL. II NO.4. Subscriptions/Send $26.22 for 9 issues To: Prime Health & Fitness, P.O. Box 37172, Boone, IA, 50037.

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Current research suggests that DHEA may be of value in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, other memory disturbances, immune system disorders including aids and chronic fatigue. DHEA may also enhance the body's immune response to viral and bacterial infections. Perhaps most interesting, DHEA is currently being investigated as an anti-aging hormone. New evidence suggest this hormone is so beneficial for so many different conditions that it may turn out to be the most important medical advance of the decade.

This information is for educational purposes only.
It is not medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice or
attention of health-care professionals. Consult your physician before
beginning or making changes in your diet, supplements or exercise program,
for diagnosis and treatment of illness and injuries, and for advice regarding medications

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1. MSM
2. MSM Testimonies
3. DHEA
4. Flea Flea Products Are you poisoning yourself or your pet?
5. Dr. Jacob MSM: DMSO After 20 years
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