Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is the most abundant steroid hormone in the human body. It is produced in the adrenal glands and fatty tissue in both men and women, and in the testes in men. Low DHEA levels have been implicated in mood disorders in men and women. Low testosterone levels can cause anxiety in men. So the conversion of DHEA into testosterone may explain its potential effects on male anxiety.
Anxiety
Anxiety refers to a group of related conditions that can trigger irritability, tension, fear or worries, either intermittently or continuously. If you have anxiety, you may have low levels of the mood-enhancing neurotransmitter serotonin. When your serotonin levels drop, activity in the amygdala, your brain’s main fear processing center, increases. This, in turn, can cause the adrenal glands to produce excess amounts of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol, which cause you to feel stress and fear.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol in the adrenal glands. After the adrenal glands secrete it into the bloodstream, it can convert into other hormones and derivatives, including the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Your natural DHEA levels peak when you are in your 20s. After that, they keep declining for the rest of your life. Though no one knows exactly how DHEA affects your body, preliminary studies indicate that healthy blood levels of DHEA may have positive effects on age-related conditions, such as age spots, porous skin and osteoporosis.
DHEA and Mood Disorders
Taking a DHEA supplement could have a positive effect on your physical and psychological well-being. According to a study in the June 1994 issue of “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,” when you increase your DHEA levels to that of individuals in their 20s, your blood levels of the sex hormones and insulin-like growth factor-I, a protein that promotes the synthesis of protein and other molecules, significantly increase. This can improve how you feel physically and psychologically.
DHEA and Anxiety
Though DHEA appears to have positive effects on mood in general, it is unclear whether it can help control anxiety in humans. Animal studies suggest it may help balance the neurotransmitters involved in anxiety. A study published in the November 2010 issue of “Journal of Psychopharmacology” indicates that DHEA may regulate activity of the amino acid gamma-amino butyric acid, or GABA. GABA inhibits transmission of nerve signals in your brain. How high your GABA levels are can affect whether serotonin promotes the transmission of nerve signals. So it is possible DHEA can alleviate anxiety by improving the function of serotonin.
Testosterone and Anxiety
A study published in the March 2011 issue of “Aging Male” found that while there is no correlation between testosterone levels and psychological disorders, low levels of testosterone are directly correlated with increased anxiety. DHEA easily converts into testosterone in the blood. So, the study indicates that DHEA’s potential positive effects on anxiety in men could be connected with its ability to restore declining testosterone.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
- Medline Plus: DHEA
- “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”; Effects of Replacement Dose of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Men and Women of Advancing Age; A.J. Morales, et al.; June 1994
- "Journal of Psychopharmacology”; The Neurosteroid Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Its Metabolites Alter 5-HT Neuronal Activity Via Modulation of GABAA Receptors; S.E. Gartside, et al.; November 2010
- "Aging Male"; Testosterone Levels and Psychological Health Status in Men From a General Population: The Tromsø Study; L.H. Berglund, et al.; March 2011
