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DHEA – The Much Controversial, Multi-Use Hormone
DHEA is the innately manufactured hormone in the human body. It is synthetically manufactured in the laboratory employing chemicals derived from wild yam and soy. Nevertheless, our bodies are incapable of producing DHEA from these compounds, hence by merely consuming wild yam and soy would not help in any way to raise DHEA levels. One must be vigilant as to not getting hoodwinked by wild yam and soy products that have labels stating ‘innate or natural DHEA’.
DHEA is a parent hormone manufactured by the adrenal glands close to the kidneys and liver area, also produced by the testes in men. It undergoes transformation within the body to the hormone androstenedione which finally morphs into the main masculine and female hormones. Its levels diminish with ageing and in those with particular medical conditions such as depression.
DHEA has been known to dawdle or undo the aging process, employed for weight reduction, enhancing cognitive skills in elderly individuals and slowing the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. Sports persons and several other individuals consume DHEA to augment muscle mass, vigour and energy levels, although, DHEA is proscribed by the NCAA or National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Men suffering from erectile dysfunction or ED use DHEA, while fit women and those women with depleted levels of particular hormones consume DHEA to enhance health and sexuality. Certain sections of individuals use DHEA for the treatment of the following aliments like:
- Brittle bones or Osteoporosis.
- Multiple scelrosis or MS.
- Lupus erythematosus or SLE.
- Plummeting levels of steroid hormones also known as Addison’s disease.
- It is used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, depressive tendencies, schizophrenics and diabetics.
- To delay the acceleration of Parkinson’s disease.
- To avert cardiac ailments, breast cancer and metabolic syndrome.
- To alleviate symptoms of depression, exhaustion experienced by HIV infected persons.
- To lower menopausal symptoms, raising bone mineral density and is at times applied internally within the vaginal walls to strengthen them in those women that have crossed menopause.
Much like several dietetic supplements, DHEA too has faced certain quality control issues. Certain local products that have labels stating DHEA as amongst its components contrarily include no DHEA, while certain other products having larger levels than were specified on their labels.
DHEA is still under the scanner and could in the near future garner approval from the Food and Drug Administration or FDA for use as a prescription medicine to treat SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus and boosting bone mineral density among women suffering from SLE that are on the course of steroid medication for their cure.
Certain scientists believe that swapping DHEA with supplements could avert certain illness and medical conditions.
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