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DHEA & Inflammation

Jun 29, 2011 | By Charis Grey

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a hormone that your adrenal glands produce. Levels of this substance, which is a precursor to the sex hormones, androgen and estrogen, peak in your mid-20s and then dwindle. Hence, DHEA is sometimes called an anti-aging hormone, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Many major degenerative diseases are linked to inflammation, prompting conjecture as to whether there is a link between aging, inflammation and DHEA. There are health risks involved with taking DHEA, so do not take this supplement without consulting your doctor.

Effects of Inflammation

Inflammation can be a healthy immune response to physical threats. When an injury or infection occurs, cells release histamine, which increases the permeability of your blood vessel walls. This increased permeability allows fluids and infection-fighting white blood cells to exit your blood vessels and flood the affected tissues. That's how inflammation can help you, by fighting infection and helping tissues to heal.

But when infection is chronic, it's as if a prolonged war is going on in your body, and as in any war, the infrastructures of the "host" can be eroded and damaged. Chronic inflammation is thought to be behind major diseases such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, according to "Time" magazine.

DHEA's Effects on Inflammation

Though theories about DHEA's assets as an anti-inflammatory agent exist, research in this area is sparse. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that one small study indicated positive results when inflammatory bowel disease was treated with DHEA, but one study does not conclusively prove these results. Research published in 2007 in the journal "Atherosclerosis" found that DHEA inhibited inflammation in human umbilical vein cells, but this research needs further confirmation in human subjects. The journal "Vascular Pharmacology" concurred in 2008 that DHEA may have anti-inflammatory effects that could prove helpful in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library concludes that claims regarding DHEA's anti-inflammatory uses remain unproven.

Other Health Effects

DHEA has had some success in the treatment of a number of disorders. According to MayoClinic.com, research has confirmed the usefulness of DHEA in treating systemic lupus erthymatosus, adrenal insufficiency and depression. DHEA is also said to be helpful in inducing labor.

Possible Risks

The long-term effects of DHEA use have not been fully studied, but its status as a sex hormone precursor raises concerns that it may increase your risk of hormone sensitive cancers, such as those of the prostate, breast and ovaries. Merck also warns that it may cause abnormal growth of breast tissue in men and facial hair in women.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Jun 29, 2011

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