The hormone DHEA comes from the adrenal gland in men and women and acts as the precursor to many steroid hormones, including cortisol, estrogen and testosterone. Natural DHEA production tends to decline with age, and many men and women older than 40 find that DHEA supplements restore some of their former energy and mental focus. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, DHEA supplements may increase testosterone as well as other sex hormones in men and women. People older than 40 with low levels of DHEA can experience osteoporosis, memory loss and certain hormone-related cancers, such as breast cancer.
Steroid Hormones
Healthy people younger than 40 who supplement with DHEA can experience the side effects of an excess of steroid hormones. If your DHEA levels are normal, taking a DHEA supplement might increase your testosterone to an unhealthy level. Although DHEA supplements are available over the counter, several sports leagues have banned them from competitive use. The National Collegiate Athletic Association lists DHEA as an anabolic agent on its list of banned substances. The International Olympic Committee and the National Football League prohibit the use of DHEA because it has effects similar to performance-enhancing drugs.
Medical Uses
DHEA supplementation has many positive uses. Pure, high-quality DHEA supplements restore normal levels in people with partial adrenal function. Medical applications for DHEA supplementation include treatments for lupus, HIV, obesity, depression, erectile dysfunction, menopause and osteoporosis. Some DHEA supplements available on the Internet and in supplement stores may not provide the benefits of medical-quality DHEA. If a DHEA supplement lists "Diosgenin" as an ingredient, it may have no effect at all.
Vegetable DHEA Extract
Always talk to your doctor before taking a supplement, especially one as potent as DHEA. Your doctor can offer you high-quality DHEA supplements, instead of supposedly natural DHEA, or diosgenin, which comes from Mexican wild yams. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, diosgenin converts to DHEA in a laboratory, although no proof exists that it converts to DHEA in the human body. Many DHEA supplements available online and in supplement stores list diosgenin as the main ingredient and label themselves as natural DHEA. Read the label of any DHEA supplement to ensure its only ingredient is DHEA. Only take DHEA as your doctor recommends it as pure DHEA can disrupt your hormonal balance.
Side Effects
The side effects of DHEA supplementation appear as an excess of androgens and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones. Men and women may experience acne, hair loss, liver damage and high blood pressure. Women may develop a deeper voice and produce facial hair, while men may have swollen breasts, shrinkage of the genitals and an aggressive temperament. Call your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur. Ask your doctor before discontinuing DHEA use as you may develop withdrawal symptoms.
