Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring substance that has been researched and used for a variety of health-promoting purposes. With age, less pregnenolone is produced by the body, and by age 70 levels can decline by as much as 60 percent over levels present in the mid-30s, according to the website Anti-AgingSystems.com. As a result, substances synthesized from it become depleted and physiological processes that rely on it are affected. Pregnenolone can be taken in supplement form and in some cases is administered by injection.
History
Research into the structure and uses of pregnenolone dates back to the 1930s and '40s. Pregnenolone was found to be effective at reversing fatigue and combating autoimmune diseases, however, with the introduction of cortisone in 1949, research into pregnenolone waned. According to the website Mercola, the more rapid action of cortisone combined with its ability to be patented in synthetic versions and marketed as a prescription drug account for the loss of interest in pregnenolone. Some research in the 1990's on pregnenolone's effects on memory and stress has resulted in a renewed interest in this substance.
Structure and Function
Pregnenolone is sometimes referred to as the "universal" hormone. Although not a hormone itself---it is classified as a steroid molecule---pregnenolone is the precursor from which all steroid hormones are derived, according to the website Cancer.org. Pregnenolone is made from cholesterol in the adrenal glands and the brain, and then converted, as needed, into hormones such as cortisone, progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and DHEA.
Uses and Effects
The steroid family of hormones that are derived from pregnenolone determine sex, modulate inflammation and regulate growth. It is used to reduce inflammation in allergic conditions and various forms of arthritis. Pregnenolone helps the body cope with stress and, as a result, improves mood and productivity. It is also touted as a more potent memory enhancer than other steroids. Symptoms of PMS and menopause can be alleviated with pregnenolone, and it is sometimes included in combination with melatonin to promote restful sleep, according to the website VitaminStuff.com
Side Effects
Pregnenolone has suppressing effects on the neurotransmitter GABA and should not be used by those with a history of seizures, according to the website Anti-AgingSystems.com. Other side effects have to do with pregnenolone being converted into hormones other than those for which it is taken as a precursor, and include feminizing effects, such as breast development in males, or masculinizing effects, such as the appearance of facial hair in women.
Dosage
Recommended dosage for pregnenolone depends on the condition being treated. Classic studies done in the 1940s on the stress-relieving effects of pregnenolone used 50 mg successfully. For arthritis, higher doses---in the range of 200 to 500mg/day---were used in studies, according to the website Intelegen.com. Dose requirements also vary depending on other factors such as body size, age and individual metabolic requirements.
