The hormone DHEA has been studied for its anti-aging effects. A metabolite of DHEA, 7-Keto DHEA, accounts for a number of DHEA's beneficial effects, without some of the negative hormonal effects associated with DHEA. Studies have shown 7-Keto DHEA to be effective in enhancing immune function and reducing body fat.
7-Keto DHEA
The term 7-Keto DHEA is actually short for the chemical compound 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroeplandros-terone, a metabolite produced in the adrenal glands, skin and brain. It was discovered in urine in 1958. Human blood levels of 7-Keto tend to rise until age 20, then slowly decline, beginning around age 30. By age 50, 7-Keto levels have fallen nearly 50 percent. According to Dr. Sergey Dzugan, president of Life Extension Scientific Information, Inc., this decline in 7-Keto levels is partly responsible for the increases in body weight and fat seen in older people.
7-Keto vs. DHEA
The steroidal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, has been studied in animals, and on a limited basis, in humans. Although it has some beneficial anti-aging effects, DHEA's dark side may be that it fosters the production of testosterone and estrogen and could accelerate the growth of undetected prostate or breast tumors. Higher levels of DHEA, and the estrogens made from it, have been found in people with breast and endometrial cancer. However, since 7-Keto is a conversion product of DHEA, it can no longer produce the sex hormones that cause DHEA to be risky. People can derive the same benefits with 7-Keto without the hormonal danger.
Fat Loss
7-Keto causes fat loss due to thermogenesis, or heat, by enhancing the activity of three thermogenic enzymes. A study published in "Current Therapeutic Research" followed 30 overweight adults. The experimental group received 100 mg of 7-Keto twice a day for eight weeks. The control group took a placebo. Both groups exercised three times a week and followed an 1,800 calorie diet. The 7-Keto group lost 6.3 pounds, while the control lost 2.1 pounds. The 7-Keto group also lost 1.8 percent fat, compared to .57 in the control group. The 7-Ketos also saw a significant increase in thyroid activity.
Immune System Boost
As people age, sometimes their immune responses decrease. The Minnesota Applied Research Center and the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center in Minneapolis studied immune function in elderly men and women. Forty-two men and women over 65 took 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily or a placebo. The 7-Keto group saw significant decreases in immune suppressor cells and a significant increase in immune helper cells.
Safety
According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, both short- and long-term studies show that 7-Keto DHEA has not damaged the DNA in rats and monkeys and has no other adverse effects. Even at doses up to 70 times the recommended dose for humans, 7-Keto is considered safe.
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