Socle DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
What is the role of DHEA?
How much DHEA do I need?
Clinical uses of DHEA
Possible adverse reactions
What is special about Socle DHEA?
What is the role of DHEA?
DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands and liver in humans. In men, DHEA is also secreted by the testes. Additionally, the brain synthesizes small quantities. It is a precursor to androgens (testosterone), estrogens, and progesterone.
DHEA→ Androstendione → Estrogen
→ Testosterone
→ Progesterone
The effects of low DHEA levels are:
Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Immune dysfunction
Hypertension
Depression
Osteoporosis
Cardiovascular disease
Some studies have found that testosterone deficiency, as well as estrogen deficiency, can first be treated by supplementing with DHEA. This is generally preferred since DHEA may allow normalization of the testosterone without the potential side effects of direct testosterone replacement. DHEA should be taken in the morning since it can cause insomnia. A study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999 showed positive benefits of DHEA supplementation in patients determined to be adrenal insufficient to include positive effects on the bone, mood and well-being, depression and lupus.
How much DHEA do I need?
Start DHEA at 25 mg once a day in the morning. In four weeks, have a blood specimen drawn for hormone levels (hair analysis and saliva testing is not a reliable way to measure hormone status). If DHEA fails to improve symptoms or blood levels after three months, then the dose may be increased. If hormone levels do not improve after 50-75 mg daily then the use of estrogen and/or testosterone may be required.
Clinical uses of DHEA
Adrenal insufficiency. Taking low-dose DHEA orally, 20-50 mg per day, seems to improve feelings of well-being, skin and hair, and sexuality in women with adrenal insufficiency or androgen deficiency due to hypopituitarism.
Aging skin. Taking DHEA orally seems to increase skin thickness and turgor, skin hydration, and decrease facial skin pigmentation in elderly men and women.
Erectile dysfunction (ED). Taking DHEA orally seems to improve ED, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall sexual satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction. DHEA seems to help men with erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension or idiopathic erectile dysfunction, but doesn't seem to improve erectile dysfunction related to diabetes or neurological disorders.
Menopausal symptoms. Taking DHEA orally 25 mg per day seems to improve subjective vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, as well as psychological symptoms throughout 12 months of therapy in clinical studies.
Osteoporosis. Taking DHEA orally 50 to 100 mg per day seems to improve bone mineral density in older women and men with osteoporosis or osteopenia. It also may increase bone mineral density in young women with anorexia nervosa.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Taking DHEA orally in conjunction with conventional treatment may help reduce SLE disease activity, frequency of flare-ups, and corticosteroid doses needed. It may also help SLE symptoms such as muscle ache and oral ulcers. DHEA also seems to improve bone mineral density in SLE patients being treated with high dose corticosteroids.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that oral DHEA might improve symptoms of CFS.
Depression. Some clinical research suggests that taking DHEA orally might improve symptoms of depression.
Metabolic syndrome. There is preliminary evidence that DHEA might decrease risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in overweight elderly men and women. Taking 50 mg/day for six months seems to significantly decrease weight, abdominal fat, and insulin levels.
Weight loss. Preliminary evidence suggests that taking 50 mg/day for six months seems to reduce risk factors for metabolic syndrome including obesity in overweight elderly patients who are at risk for metabolic syndrome. But it's not known if this potential benefit applies to younger patients when used specifically for weight loss.
Mortality risk appears to be higher in men under 70 years old with very low DHEA levels. Men who smoke and have low DHEA levels seem to have a mortality risk more than six times greater than nonsmokers with high DHEA-S levels. The cause of this increased risk is unknown.
Possible adverse reactions
DHEA adverse effects are generally mild at low doses such as 50 mg per day. At doses of 200 mg per day, DHEA frequently causes adverse effects. Androgenic effects such as acne occur in about one-third of women taking DHEA 200 mg per day and hirsutism in about 16%. High doses of DHEA can also cause hair loss, voice deepening, insulin resistance, changes in menstrual pattern, liver dysfunction, abdominal pain, and hypertension. When used in very high doses it can cause mild insomnia. Mania occurred in people with no history of psychiatric disease and in those with a history of mania and bipolar disorder. Mania can occur with doses ranging from 50-300 mg per day
There is some concern that DHEA might increase cancer risk when taken long term. Some research suggests that it may increase the growth of malignant cells. But, some preliminary research suggests DHEA might protect against cancer.
Patients with estrogen receptor-positive cancers such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer should not take DHEA, even if they are being treated with tamoxifen.
DHEA may increase testosterone levels and worsen conditions of androgen excess such as polycystic ovary syndrome
What is special about Socle DHEA?
DHEA is a synthetic product that can be manufactured from natural sources such as soy and wild yam (which explains its ability to be marketed as a dietary supplement). Constituents, such as diosgenin, are converted in the laboratory to DHEA. However, diosgenin from ingested wild yam or soy cannot be converted to DHEA in the human body, as has been reported. Neither soy or wild yam taken orally has any effect on DHEA levels in humans. People interested in taking DHEA should avoid wild yam and soy products labeled as "natural DHEA."
Like many dietary supplements, DHEA is plagued by quality control problems. DHEA content ranges from 0% to 150% of the labeled amount in tested products.
DHEA is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
DHEA is being investigated as a prescription drug for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and improving bone mineral density in women with lupus taking glucocorticoids.
For more information on this product check out the Vitality Research Institute.
