DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is an adrenal gland hormone the human body uses to make the male sex hormones called androgens and the female sex hormone estrogen. Use of DHEA supplements may potentially help promote weight loss in individuals at risk for a set of medical conditions known collectively as metabolic syndrome.
DHEA Basics
In addition to production centered in the adrenal glands of both men and women, DHEA is naturally produced in male testes, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus. Once this hormone is secreted, your body converts it into another hormone called androstenedione. Your body then uses androstenedione for androgen or estrogen production. Supplement manufacturers create synthetic DHEA from certain chemicals contained in soybeans and wild yams. However, you cannot directly increase your DHEA supply by eating these two foods in their natural states.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a term used for an assortment of health problems when they occur simultaneously in your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Components of the disorder include abnormally high blood cholesterol, abnormal increases in your blood pressure, elevated blood levels of insulin and excessive levels of body fat centered in your abdomen or waist. Above and beyond the risks associated with these conditions when they occur individually, metabolic syndrome can increase your risks for the development of diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
Obesity and Age
You have increased risks for the development of metabolic syndrome if you are obese, the Mayo Clinic reports. One specific indication of obesity is a result of greater than 25 on a body mass index test (BMI), which records your current weight in relation to your height. You also have an increased risk for metabolic syndrome if you carry your excess weight in an apple-shaped configuration, which emphasizes abdominal obesity. In addition, you have an increasing risk for metabolic syndrome as you age over time; roughly 40 percent of people in their 60s have some form of the condition.
Weight Loss
If you are older and overweight, taking a DHEA supplement may help promote weight loss around your waist and diminish overall obesity, Medline Plus reports. DHEA supplementation may also lower your risks for the development of elevated insulin levels. In turn, these decreases can lower your risks for the development of metabolic syndrome. However, evidence for these uses is preliminary, and researchers cannot currently verify these potential beneficial effects. In addition, researchers have yet to determine DHEA's effects on the body weight of younger individuals.
Considerations
There is a good chance you can safely use DHEA in daily doses of 50 to 100 mg for a period of several months, Medline Plus notes. However, prolonged or excessive use of this substance can significantly raise your risks for the development of associated side effects, including high blood pressure, stomach distress, hair loss, unwanted facial hair growth, deepening of your speaking voice and acne. Avoid DHEA use if you are pregnant or nursing, or have conditions including liver problems, polycystic ovary syndrome and hormone-sensitive cancer. Consult your doctor before using DHEA in any other circumstances.
Member Comments