Dehydroepiandrosterone Benefits

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a hormone that is found naturally in the human body and primarily produced in your adrenal glands. DHEA is the most abundant steroid in the bloodstream, and it is a precursor for the production of the hormones estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and corticosterone. DHEA is also marketed and sold as a supplement for a variety of health-promoting purposes; however, you should consult with your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with DHEA.

People Who May Benefit from DHEA

The lower the levels of DHEA in your body, the more prone you are to sickness. Most healthy individuals can synthesize adequate amounts of DHEA, however, and do not require DHEA supplementation. On the other hand, DHEA may be useful to certain elderly individuals, because as you age, the amount of DHEA that your body produces declines, especially after the age of 40. Low levels of DHEA are also common among severe burn victims and individuals with coronary artery disease, Type-2 diabetes, obsessive-compulsive disorder and rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that preliminary research done on animals has found that DHEA may have chemopreventive properties and block the development of tumors. DHEA supplements may also help to enhance the immune response following hepatitis and flu vaccinations. In addition, clinical trials have found DHEA supplements to effectively treat Addison's disease, major depression, schizophrenia-induced anxiety, lupus, osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction.

Additional Purported Uses

Other benefits of DHEA supplements include the prevention of arterial disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis. According to Phyllis Balch in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," DHEA may also help to treat diabetes, enhance immune-system function, reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, enhance skin tone and improve memory. In addition, DHEA supplements are purported to help promote weight loss, increase energy, elevate mood and enhance sexual performance. These uses are based primarily on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence, however.

Precautions

DHEA supplements can cause acne, and in women it can cause excess facial hair growth and menstrual irregularities. Also, high levels of DHEA in pre-menopausal women have been associated with an increased risk for ovarian and breast cancer. Some physicians believe that taking high doses of DHEA supplements suppresses your body's natural ability to produce this hormone. DHEA may also cause liver damage, and if you are supplementing with DHEA, Balch recommends also taking an antioxidant supplement that contains vitamin C, E and selenium to protect your liver from free-radical damage. DHEA can interact negatively with a variety of medications including diabetes medications and hormone replacement drugs. Finally, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid DHEA due to the effect it has on hormones.