DHEA, whose scientific name is dehydroepiandrosterone, is a steroid hormone your body produces in the adrenal glands. The DHEA in your body is a precursor for estrogens and androgen -- the sex hormones. As you age, your body produces less DHEA. By the time a person is 70, the DHEA in his body is about 20 percent of its highest level, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult your doctor before taking a DHEA hormone supplement.
Considerations
Due to the naturally declining levels of the DHEA hormone, researchers and scientists frequently research DHEA and its role in the body. Although there are some well-known and researched benefits for supplementation with the DHEA hormone, taking DHEA simply to attempt to reverse the signs of aging or other unsubstantiated reasons may be dangerous, as DHEA hormone supplements may adversely affect your cholesterol levels, and some over the counter supplements may contain contaminants.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women can lead to loss of bone density. As the bones weaken, they are more likely to break. Your hips, wrist and spine are most vulnerable to breakage as you age. If you have documented low levels of DHEA in your blood, your doctor may recommend a DHEA hormone supplement to help reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, if you are receiving glucocortiocoid therapy for adrenal problems or an autoimmune disorder, DHEA supplementation may help with osteoporosis as well, according to a March 2007 study published in the journal "Menopause International."
Fertility Benefits
In women with a diminished ovarian reserve, supplementation with DHEA appears to improve their ovarian reserve, according to a September 2010 study published in the journal "Reproductive BioMedical Online." The women who took 25 mg of DHEA three times throughout the day achieved a pregnancy 23.64 percent of the time, and the researchers concluded that DHEA supplementation was a significant factor. In older women undergoing IVF treatment, supplementation with DHEA appeared to lessen the normal miscarriage risk, according to a October 2009 study in the journal "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology."
Aging Skin
As you age, your skin thins and loses elasticity. Treating aging skin with a topical formulation of the hormone DHEA may prove beneficial to the elderly, as indicated in a February 2008 pilot study published in the journal "Maturitas." The National Institutes of Health indicates that you can possibly improve the thickness, increase the moisture and help the appearance of age spots on elderly skin by taking DHEA orally.
Warning
Do not take DHEA without your doctor's approval. The National Institutes of Health advises that pregnant and breastfeeding women never take the supplement, as the effects on the baby are unknown. DHEA may cause you to experience problems with your menstruation and a change in your voice and hair growth patterns, if you are a woman. If you have cancer, liver disease, diabetes or suffer from certain mood disorders, DHEA may be contraindicated.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dehydroepiandrosterone
- "Menopause International"; Peter W. Raven, et al.; March 2007
- International Osteoporosis Foundation: What Is Osteoporosis?
- "Reproductive BioMedicine Online"; Norbert Gleicher, et al.; September 2010
- "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology"; Norbert Gleicher, et al.; October 2009
- "Maturitas"; Stephanie Nouveau, et al.; February 2008
