Special cells throughout the body manufacture the steroid pregnenolone. These cells release this hormone into the bloodstream where it breaks down into progesterone, testosterone, estrogen and other chemicals. Thus, pregnenolone serves as a prohormone, or building block for many important substances. Aging and disease can reduce circulating levels of pregnenolone, creating hormone deficiencies. Supplements can replace lost hormones, but they may cause side effects. You should, therefore, speak with a doctor before beginning replacement therapy.
Reduces Alcohol Consumption
Nearly 20 percent of the population has a drinking problem according to a 2010 survey published in the "Central European Journal of Public Health." Such people remain at risk for many physical and mental ailments. Prescription medications can help treat alcoholism, but natural substances may provide a better option. A 2010 study in "Alchoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research" looked at pregnenolone's ability to reduce alcohol consumption in laboratory animals. Rodents, trained to self-administer ethanol, received either pregnenolone or saline for several weeks. Rats given the steroid consumed less alcohol than controls. Activity level did not affect the data as it was similar in each condition. It remains unclear, however, if pregnenolone would produce similar effects in humans.
Treats Schizophrenic Symptoms
Schizophrenia remains a rare disorder affecting less than 1 percent of the population. This number, however, may be increasing according to a 2006 survey offered in the "Archives of General Psychiatry." This finding places stress on already overtaxed health care systems. A 2010 article in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" evaluated pregnenolone supplements as a simple treatment for schizophrenic symptoms. Patients received either the supplement or a placebo for about two and half years. Subjects given pregnenolone had less psychiatric symptoms than those given placebo. The supplement also reduced the side effects caused by the patients' psychotropic medications. The subjects tolerated the treatment well. The authors considered these findings preliminary and in need of replication.
Enhances Memory
Many people suffer from mild cognitive impairment especially memory problems. (See Note 1) Supplement makers offer over-the-counter products as a panacea. Yet, few scientific findings support these claims. A 2010 report in the "European Journal of Pharmacology" tested the impact of pregnenolone on cognitive performance in laboratory rodents. Mice received either the supplement or a placebo for several weeks. Relative to controls, mice given pregnenolone showed enhanced memory. Progesterone, a metabolite of pregnenolone, reduced anxiety in the same setting. Similar data were obtained with either nasal applications or stomach injections. Results found in healthy animals, however, may not apply to humans experiencing memory difficulties.
Improves Depression
Cognitive deficits can be associated with chemical dependencies or mental disorders. Substances which enhance memory may therefore improve mood as well. A 2010 paper in "Psychiatry Research" tested pregnenolone in depressed patients with a history of substance abuse. Subjects received daily doses of the supplement or a placebo for eight weeks. Pregnenolone reduced depression scores relative to placebo. Patients did not report any adverse reactions to the supplement. The treatment, however, also did not enhance memory. Thus, the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of pregnenolone supplements are unknown. Further tests remain necessary to understand the health benefits of hormone replacement.
References
- "Central European Journal of Public Health"; Czech Audit: Internal Consistency, Latent Structure and Identification of Risky Alcohol Consumption; H. Sovinova and L. Csemy; September 2010
- "Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research"; Pregnenolone and Ganaxolone Reduce Operant Ethanol Self-Administration in Alcohol-Preferring P Rats; Joyce Besheer, et al.; December 2010
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Heterogeneity in Incidence Rates of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Syndromes; James B. Kirkbride, et al.; March 2006
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Pregnenolone and Dehydroepiandrosterone as an Adjunctive Treatment in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder; Michael S. Ritner, et al.; October 2010
- "European Journal of Pharmacology"; Brain Distribution and Behavioral Effects of Progesterone and Pregnenolone After Intranasal or Intravenous Administration; Nicole Ducharme, et al.; Sept. 1, 2010
- "Psychiatry Research"; Pregnenolone for Cognition and Mood in Dual Diagnosis Patients; Julian Iheanyi Osuji, et al.; July 30, 2010
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