7-Keto DHEA is a natural metabolite of DHEA, a hormone that is secreted by your adrenal glands. 7-Keto DHEA has been shown to be effective in short-term weight-loss trials when used as part of a controlled diet and exercise routine. 7-Keto DHEA increases your body’s levels of the thyroid hormone T3, which in turn stimulates your metabolism and helps you to burn more calories.
7-Keto DHEA
According to Cox Health, 7-Keto DHEA is a natural end product of dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, which is called the “mother hormone” because it is a precursor to other important hormones. While both DHEA and 7-Keto DHEA have been used as weight-loss supplements, 7-Keto DHEA is considered to be safer and more effective than its mother hormone at helping people to lose weight. 7-Keto DHEA is available in capsule form and can be taken like a vitamin.
Weight Loss
7-Keto DHEA has a range of health benefits, but its most common use is as a weight-loss aid. Because it increases thyroid T3 levels, 7-Keto DHEA helps to increase your body’s metabolic rate so that you burn more calories, even while resting. The supplement also stimulates your liver to produce more thermogenic enzymes, which may also help burn body fat. One weight-loss study involving 30 patients showed that people who took 200 mg per day of 7-Keto DHEA lost almost three times more weight than those who received a placebo. It is important to note that these patients also did an hour of exercise three days a week and controlled their diet.
Dosage Levels
A safety study was done on a group of 22 men who were given 200 mg per day of 7-Keto DHEA for four weeks. In the double-blind study, one group was given the supplement while the control group received a placebo. The men’s blood was analyzed for any spikes in hormone levels, but the hormones remained within normal parameters and did not build up over time. The researchers concluded that 200 mg per day was a safe dosage for the four-week trial period. No official dosage exists, but 50 mg to 100 mg per day is recommended for anti-aging effects, while 200 mg per day is recommended for weight loss. Consult your doctor or other health-care practitioner before supplementing your diet with 7-Keto DHEA.
Safety Issues
Unlike DHEA, which is a precursor of the sex hormones estrogen and androgen, 7-Keto DHEA is an end product and cannot produce sex hormones. Because DHEA does produce a spike in the level of your body’s sex hormones, the possible side effects associated with DHEA supplementation may include hormone-related problems such as acne and increased susceptibility to uterine fibroids and breast cancer. 7-Keto DHEA does not have side effects related to the sex hormones, although claims that it is completely safe are probably unfounded. 7-Keto DHEA has not been studied long enough for long-term effects to be known, but because it increases thyroid T3 levels, it’s possible that it can promote too much T3, which can have negative consequences that include bone loss and heart problems.
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