DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone made from cholesterol and the precursor to both testosterone and estrogen. Mostly produced by your adrenal glands, DHEA is also made by your brain and testicles or ovaries. Your body's production of DHEA naturally decreases with age, starting in your 30s, which can lead to a decrease in testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for sex drive in both men and women, and low testosterone levels can cause impotence in men. Your body also uses testosterone to build strength and muscle mass, as well as increase bone density and even improve your mood.
Step 1
Take a DHEA supplement. DHEA supplements are made synthetically from compounds found in wild yams and soy. But your body can't naturally use these chemicals to create DHEA, so ignore any marketing claims on soy or wild yam products that say "natural DHEA." These synthetic DHEA supplements are available over the counter and are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only as dietary supplements. Common daily doses range from 25 to 200 mg.
Step 2
Maintain a healthy body weight. DHEA converts to both testosterone and estrogen -- but is more likely to become estrogen if you're overweight. Estrogen is produced in fat cells -- the more fat you have, the more estrogen you'll have. If you have low levels of testosterone, it could be caused by a hormone imbalance. You may not need to produce more testosterone but to produce less estrogen -- changing the ratio of testosterone to estrogen.
Step 3
Use DHEA under a doctor's supervision. Although DHEA is available without a prescription, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you use DHEA only under a doctor's care because there are conflicting studies for the uses of DHEA. Although medical experts don't question its use as a precursor to testosterone, there are studies involving DHEA and its use to treat depression, heart disease, obesity, lupus and cancer that require further testing.
Tips and Warnings
- According to the National Institutes of Health, DHEA can increase skin thickness and moisture, improving the skin's appearance in elderly people -- it can even reduce age spots.
- People with a history of hormone-related cancers, such as prostate, breast or testicular cancer, should not use DHEA supplements. DHEA is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It can make liver problems worse and affect the way your body uses insulin -- diabetics should only use DHEA under a doctor's care.
