About 2 percent of men experience the male equivalent of menopause, according to a February 2011 review in "Climacteric." Low levels of testosterone remain the main indicator for this medical condition. This deficiency triggers an increase in depression scores and body fat. It also causes a decrease in muscular strength and physical function. Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, might help some men overcome these problems. Speak with a doctor before taking over-the-counter supplements.
DHEA Increases Testosterone
Testosterone levels decline as men get older. This decrease can cause erectile dysfunction and excessive fatigue, according to a June 2010 report in "Therapeutic Advances in Urology." Taking supplements might reverse this decline because your body converts DHEA into testosterone. An investigation presented in the February 2010 issue of the "Chinese Journal of Physiology" looked at the impact of DHEA on circulating hormones. Participants received either the supplement or an inert substance for a month. Relative to placebo, DHEA increased testosterone and estrogen without causing side effects.
DHEA Increases Strength
Aging is associated with a progressive loss of muscle mass. This loss reduces physical strength and places older adults at risk for injury, according to a May 2011 report in the "Medical Clinics of North America." Taking DHEA pills might help rectify this problem as they increase anabolic -- muscle building -- processes. An experiment published in the March 2003 edition of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" tested this hypothesis in older men. Subjects received the DHEA or a placebo for a year. The supplement, relative to the placebo, increased grip strength within six months. No adverse events were reported.
DHEA Decreases Body Fat
Obesity continues to increase in older adults despite advances in food technology. Being overweight places an additional burden on an aging body, according to a February 2011 review in the "British Medical Bulletin." Anabolic chemicals such as DHEA increase metabolism and should, therefore, keep your weight in check. A paper offered in the November 2004 edition of "JAMA" evaluated this idea in older adults. The authors gave healthy men DHEA for six months. Relative to a placebo, the supplement reduced body fat and enhanced insulin production. The participants did not experience side effects.
DHEA Decreases Depression Scores
Many older adults remain at risk for mental health problems. Depression should be avoided as it increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. These conditions accelerate the aging process, according to a 2011 review in "Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience." Over-the-counter DHEA pills might complement prescription drugs as a treatment for depression. A study described in the July 2008 issue of the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society" tested this hypothesis in older men. The participants received either DHEA or placebo for a year. The steroid, relative to the placebo, reduced subjective ratings of depression. Men given DHEA reported mild cardiovascular problems twice as often as men given placebo. Yet, these issues affected only a few subjects.
References
- "Climacteric"; Male Menopause: Is It a Real Clinical Syndrome?; Amos Pines; February 2011
- "Therapeutic Advances in Urology"; Hypogonadism, ADAM, and Hormone Replacement; Michael R. Pinsky and Wayne J. G. Hellstrom; June 2010
- "Chinese Journal of Physiology"; Effects of Short-Term Dehydroepiandrosterone Supplementation on Body Composition in Young Athletes; Sergej M. Ostojic, et al.; February 2010
- "Medical Clinics of North America"; Treatment Strategies for Sarcopenia and Frailty; Yves Rolland, et al.; May 2011
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Effect of 1-year Oral Administration of Dehydroepiandrosterone to 60- to 80-Year-Old Individuals on Muscle Function and Cross-Sectional Area; Gaelle Percheron, et al.; March 2003
- "British Medical Journal"; Obesity and Weight Management in the Elderly; Thang S. Han, et al.; February 2011
