D.H.E.A., the androgen hormone
DHEA, look
younger, live longer, feel better ?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (D.H.E.A.) has become the most famous of the nutritional
supplements since a study showed that for certain categories of people, it could
prove to be effective. Most web sites claim that this pill could make us live longer, lose weight, prevent cancer, cardiac disease and
of Alzheimer, boost our immune system …
The DHEA, the androgen hormone secreted in greatest quantity by the adrenal glands. Our
body uses it to build mainly the sex hormones. This hormone circulates in the
body mainly in water-soluble form. It was insulated clinically in the urines in
free form in 1931. The hormone which interests everyone is in fact a
water-soluble derivative : Sulphate of DHEA. It is known in an unquestionable way
that it appears between 6 and 7 y.o. and that there is an increasing curve with
a peak towards about 30 year’s old. The rate goes down again then in an
inescapable way till, at around 75 years the human beings have only 20% of the DHEA in
circulation of what they had 50 years earlier. At all age, the men tend to have
rates more raised than the women. It is also known that DHEA plays a role the
adaptation to the stress (source: Institute of Nutrition - Florida).
In United States, it is freely sold because no notable side
effect was shown with prescribed dose but especially because it was reclassified
like " dietetic supplement ".
In other countries, it is prohibited (France, Spain ...). The DHEA could be
sold only after obtaining an authorization delivered by the medical authorities of
the countries (i.e. the F.D.A. of each country). Tests were made in Europe on 280 subjects, during two years.
These
tests published on April 11 2000, and the conclusions are:
-
a notable improvement of the skin (better hydration of the skin,
reduction of the atrophy of the skin).
- a wakening of the libido among the 70 year old women (energy, vitality ...).
-
an improvement of the osseous density (bones are less fragile).
Other studies are in order to show or not the benefit of the DHEA on:
- the boost of the immune system (reinforcement of resistance to the
diseases)
- a better resistance to the stress,
- the reduction of the disorders associated with the menopause and the male
menopause,
- an increase in the memory, an improvement of depressive states.
Actually, complementary search is still necessary to better specify the
action and the effects of this hormone. Many information not validated by the
scientists circulates on Internet. The benefit supposed of this hormone are not
always those which are alleged. It is advisable to show a very critical spirit
while waiting for the final validation of all the tests. It remains to validate the optimal posology what can change the results gotten in the
study.
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