DHEA: An Anti-aging Supplement

DHEA, often considered as a “fountain of youth” is actually a short term for dehydroepiandrosterone, which is a steroid hormone or a naturally occurring hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland.  DHEA is also sometimes hyped as the “mother of all steroid hormones” for the main reason that it is largely transformed in the body into different forms of hormones, involving the estrogen and testosterone.

Numerous reports have mentioned that DHEA largely functions to slow aging, thus it is considered by some as “the promise of youth” or the “fountain of youth”.  Aside from that DHEA has been touted to melt away the fats that are absorbed in the body, improve the memory, prevent the onset of osteoporosis, and enhance the level of libido. 

With the coming of age, the levels of DHEA in the body naturally weaken.  It is in fact considered that DHEA levels rise during the period of puberty and it reach a zenith of about age 30, and then degenerate spectacularly in both women and men as they age.  From certain studies, it has been reported that at the age of 80, people are naturally creating just about five percent of the DHEA levels and they were tossing out at the age of 30. 

From such lower levels of DHEA, most researchers are recently examining the possible explanation for some age related ailments.  At their studies, they also included some possible ideas of whether taking DHEA supplements will keep them at bay.  More particularly, most of the modern scientists are examining the potency of DHEA for protecting humans against heart disease especially in older men.  Also they were trying to find out the ability of DHEA to boost the immune system, and whether it can aid ion the management of diabetes and easing the symptoms of lupus. 

The strongest evidence ever made so far is the discovery that DHEA has the capability to improve the quality of life of older people and boosting their level of energy and its ability to hold stress, since it was once found out that DHEA levels may also drop significantly in conditions that are related with chronic stress, like the fibromyalgia.

Furthermore, there are recent findings which demonstrate that by means of replacing the dwindling levels of DHEA can ward off some diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as lupus. 

In terms of DHEA’s potential for providing anti-aging benefits, some of the animal studies have given some spectacular hints of the promise of DHEA.  Particularly, in the case of mice and rats, it was found out that this hormone can improve the immunity, encourage weight loss, and protect against the onset of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  And since humans also produce DHEA, many scientists have speculated that this may also work with humans.

Greatly today, a new DHEA-associated supplement known as 7-keto DHEA is made available widely since the mid-1998.  Since this compound is not yet transformed to estrogen and testosterone in the body, there is a great possibility that this compound is the safest form, especially for those who are at risk for hormone-sensitive cancers of the v\breast, prostate, and ovary.  However, it is best taken under the guidance of a doctor.