If you are one of the approximately 1.5 million people with lupus in the United States, you might be interested in reports that DHEA could be useful for treating the disease. DHEA doesn't work on its own, however, but functions best when used in conjunction with standard medical care. Consult a doctor before using DHEA, or any other dietary supplement, to treat lupus.
Lupus
The chronic inflammatory disorder lupus develops when the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. Lupus affects the skin, blood, joints and organs in flareups that can occur throughout a patient's life. For some patients, lupus attacks are mild, while for others the disease can be life-threatening. Lupus occurs most often in women between the ages of 15 and 44, but it can also strike men, children, teens and women of any age. There are several forms of lupus, with the most common type being systemic lupus erythematosus, the kind that affects multiple organs and systems within the body.
DHEA
The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is naturally produced in the adrenal gland as a precursor to the male and female sex hormones androgen and estrogen. Supplements containing synthetic DHEA created from soy and wild yam are used to treat sexual dysfunction, aging, mood disorders and the systemic lupus erythematosus form of lupus. Side effects from using DHEA include hair loss, nausea, hypertension and acne.
DHEA for Lupus
DHEA might be effective in treating the symptoms of lupus and in preventing flare ups, according to numerous clinical studies, including a 1998 study in the "Journal of Rheumatology." Taking DHEA simultaneously with prescription medication for lupus could reduce the amount of medicine you need to take. DHEA could also be useful for patients receiving corticosteroid treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus, because it appears to strengthen the bones of these people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011 was investigating whether to approve DHEA as a prescription drug for treating systemic lupus erythematosus, but it has not yet been approved for this purpose. It is available, however, as a dietary supplement.
Usage
The standard dose used in clinical trials for treating systemic lupus erythematosus is 200 mg per day, taken in conjunction with standard treatment. However, some studies have used doses up to 600 mg per day. Be careful when purchasing DHEA supplements and only buy from a reputable supplier. Some supplements promoted as DHEA might not have a sufficient amount of the compound, while others may have dangerous amounts higher than what the packaging claims. If you are taking DHEA along with corticosteroid treatments for lupus, you should ask your doctor about possible interactions.
