DHEA | Dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA | Dehydroepiandrosterone

Properties: DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone that occurs in the human body naturally. It’s a precursor of sex steroid hormones (androgens and estrogens) and it can be converted into those hormones if necessary. As the DHEA level unavoidably decreases with age, the levels of steroids also fall down. DHEA supplementation helps to maintain hormonal balance in a natural way. It counteracts both the negative effects of menopause in women and decreased libido in men. As the DHEA concentration decreases with age, lowered mood occurs more frequently. When DHEA is externally supplied, it provides better emotional stability and helps to look at the bright side of life. Additionally, DHEA can improve the physical training effects. Not only does it increase stamina, but it also improves the fat burning process, boosts muscle gain and helps the muscles to regenerate. What is more, it improves the process of bone mineralization making the bones more durable and harder.

DHEA is commonly used as an ingredient of anti-aging cosmetics. It is good for moisturizing the skin and prevents it from drying out. Sebum production decreases as we age, due to the sebaceous glands’ lower efficiency. By helping to moisturize the skin, DHEA enhances its firmness and flexibility while reducing the wrinkles. DHEA has an anti-aging effect on skin and makes it look more healthy and younger.

Occurrence: DHEA is produced in the human body. To be more specific, it is made from cholesterol in the adrenal glands. Ovaries and testicles also synthesize this hormone but on a smaller scale.

Biochemistry: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, androstenolone, prasterone) is a natural sex steroid hormone belonging to androgens. In the human body DHEA is produced from cholesterol, mainly by the adrenal cortex.  DHEA is one of the most common steroids present in the human body. Depending on the organism needs, it can be converted to androgens (male hormones): testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estrogens (female hormones), like estradiol. After oral administration, DHEA is metabolized to its sulphated form – DHEA-S. This compound can be reconverted to DHEA. Prasterone easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, it can act as a neurotransmitter and affects levels of other important compounds, e.g. serotonin.

Fun fact: DHEA level changes with age. In children DHEA concentration is considerably low and then increases just before puberty to reach its maximum in early adolescence (between the ages of 20 and 30). The gradual decrease in DHEA level occurs as we get older. This, in turn, leads to the reduction of sex hormones concentration.