The adrenal cortex that sits on the top of each of your kidneys produces dehydroepiandrosterone, more commonly known as DHEA. In the first years of life, your adrenals produce very little DHEA. However, around the age of 6 your body begins to increase production of DHEA. This production peaks in your mid-20s and subsequently begins to decline in your 30s. According to "Williams Textbook of Endocrinology," once you reach the age of 70, your DHEA values are about 20 percent of their peak values in men and 30 percent of peak values in women.
Dehydroepiandrosterone
According to "Integrative Medicine," DHEA is the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid in your body. Your body uses DHEA in the synthesis of other hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. Additionally, DHEA plays an important role in triggering the development of pubic and underarm hair. The adrenal glands, the ovaries, testes and the brain synthesize DHEA. Further, DHEA or the lack of DHEA in your body can contribute to several medical conditions, including alopecia, osteoporosis, degenerative diseases and mood disorders.
DHEA Elevation
According to the Mayo Clinic, DHEA may theoretically increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian and other hormone-sensitive cancers. However, further studies need to confirm the cause-and-effect relationship of DHEA and these medical disorders. Doctors will commonly test DHEA levels when children show puberty-related characteristics earlier than expected, especially the early appearance of pubic or underarm hair. An overproduction of DHEAs in girls may result in the development of masculine characteristics such as irregular or nonexistent menstrual periods. Additionally, women with polycystic ovary syndrome often also have increased levels of DHEAs.
DHEA Elevation and Cancer
According to "Williams Textbook of Endocrinology," very high levels of DHEAs, greater than 8 mg/mL, suggest an adrenal tumor. Further, testosterone levels three times the upper normal range of 2 ng/mL in combination with DHEA levels higher than 8 mg/mL may indicate the presence of an abnormal mass on the ovary or adrenal, causing the excess levels of testosterone and DHEA.
Excess of DHEA Intake
According to "DHEA: A Practical Guide," as a supplement, DHEA can slow or reverse aging, improve mental function and retard the progress of Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, DHEA supplementations can help in stopping the progression of degenerative diseases, osteoporosis, depression, breast cancer and diabetes. However, excess levels of DHEA can manifest as acne, insomnia, fatigue, oily skin, abdominal pain, hair loss, nasal congestion, rapid or irregular heartbeats and heart palpitations. Additionally excess DHEA can cause liver function abnormalities, psychotic disorders and elevated blood pressure.
References
- "DHEA: A Practical Guide"; Ray Sahelian; 1996
- "Williams Textbook of Endocrinology"; P. Reed Larsen MD FACP FRCP and et al.; 2002
- "Integrative Medicine"; David Rakel; 2002
- Kids Health: Blood Test: Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate (DHEA-S)
- Mayo Clinic: DHEA; April 2011
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