People gain weight as they age, partially due to decreased muscle mass, but hormonal changes may also play a role. Supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, may mitigate some of these changes and help older people lose fat and replace some muscle mass. There is little human research about DHEA's effect on weight loss, and potential side effects and drug interactions mean that you shouldn't use it without first discussing it with your doctor.
DHEA
DHEA is a sex hormone precursor secreted by the adrenal gland. Your body makes its own DHEA, but production begins to drop off after age 30, and may also be low in people with certain conditions like type 2 diabetes, AIDS, kidney disease and adrenal insufficiency. Some medications, including corticosteroids, opiates and insulin, may also lower your body's natural DHEA production, and supplementation may be necessary.
Fat Loss, Not Weight Loss
DHEA has been proven effective for weight loss in several studies, but the mechanism is not clear. Theories suggest that it may dull the appetite, block the absorption of fats, or influence age-related hormonal changes that can cause weight gain. Most of the positive evidence has been from animal studies, which do not necessarily translate to humans. Research on humans showed fat loss but not weight loss, suggesting muscle gain. A 1988 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" was conducted on men only. It is unclear whether the same results would occur in women.
Dosing
Your DHEA dose should be between 25 and 50 mg per day, according to MedlinePlus. Higher doses are used in the treatment of some medical conditions and when natural DHEA levels are low, but the dose would be prescribed by a doctor in these cases. Because DHEA levels decline with age, older people tend to see more benefit. Vegetarians tend to see less benefit because they have naturally high DHEA levels. Taking a larger dose than recommended won't make it work any faster, but it will put you at risk for side effects.
Safety
Because DHEA is related to the sex hormones, gender-related changes may occur with high doses or long-term use. Men may develop enlarged breasts, and women may develop facial hair, acne and a deeper voice. Both genders may experience headache, insomnia, abdominal weight gain and emotional changes. DHEA may interact with soy food, so consult your doctor before use if your diet is high in soy. People with diabetes, thyroid issues, high cholesterol or other endocrine problems should not use DHEA without their doctor's knowledge. Because DHEA can negatively interact with medications, consult your doctor before use.
References
- MayoClinic.com: DHEA
- MedlinePlus: DHEA
- DrLark.com; DHEA for Healthy Weight Loss; Kimberly Day; August 14, 2009
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Dehydroepiandrosterone Reduces Serum Low Density Lipoprotein Levels and Body Fat But Does Not Alter Insulin Sensitivity in Normal Men; Nestler JE, et al.; January 1988
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