Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a steroid hormone that is naturally produced by your adrenal glands. This hormone may be transformed into testosterone, estrogen or other types of steroids. The amount of DHEA in your body begins to decrease after you turn of 30. Some people with conditions such as anorexia, end-stage kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, AIDS and adrenal insufficiency and the critically ill experience lowered levels of DHEA. There have been no studies conducted on the long-term effects of using DHEA, and supplementing this hormone in your body can cause higher than normal levels of androgen and estrogen. The use of any medication, including DHEA, should not be used unless supervised by a licensed health professional.
Uses
Over the last 30 years, DHEA has been used to treat obesity, diabetes and lupus. People who have used this hormone report improvement in sleep, energy levels and a sense of well-being. According to the National Institute of Health, other conditions may benefit from the use of DHEA but more clinical study is needed, such as aging, allergic disorders, loss of menstration due to anorexia, andropause/andrenopause, angioedema, anxiety, asthma, bone diseases, bone loss associated with anorexia, bladder cancer, breast cancer, burns, colon cancer, dementia, diabetes, fatigue, heart attack, high cholesterol, Huntington's disease, influenza, joint diseases, lipodystrophy in HIV, liver protection, malaria, malnutrition, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, pancreatic cancer, Parkinson's disease, performance enhancement, polycystic ovarian syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder , premenstrual syndrome, prostate cancer, Raynaud's disease, skin graft healing, sleep disorders, stress, tetanus, ulcerative colitis and viral encephalitis.
Risks
MayoClinic.com reports that long-term use of DHEA supplement increases your risk of developing prostate, breast and ovarian cancer because this hormone causes a higher than normal level of androgen and estrogen in the body. Tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer is attributed to DHEA use and high levels of the hormone has been correlated with incidents of Cushing's syndrome.
Administration
DHEA-S stands for DHEA sulfate, and it can be used to treat conditions as well as the original form of DHEA. This hormone supplement comes in an injection, capsule, tablet or cream. Dosage usually ranges from 25 to 200 milligrams per day, but the American Journal of Psychiatry reported a study supported by The National Institutes of Mental Health, showing higher doses of 200 to 500 milligrams per day have therapeutic effects for depression in HIV/AIDS patients.
Side Effects
There are not many side effects reported when DHEA supplements are taken orally, following the recommended doses. The National Institutes of Health reports that side effects reported included fatigue, nasal congestion, headache, acne and an irregular pulse.The most common side effects in women are abnormal periods, unstable emotions, headache and insomnia. Other side effects include sleep problems, agitation, delusions, mania, nervousness, irritability or psychosis.
Considerations
The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbs and supplements in the same manner that other drugs are regulated. You do not have a guarantee of the strength, purity or safety of DHEA supplements, and the effects may vary. The Food and Drug Administration is in the midst of examining the possibility of classifying DHEA as a Schedule III drug due to its steroid effect on the body. If this happens, it will be extremely difficult to obtain this steroid hormone.
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