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About Hormones Men DHEA
About Hormones Men DHEA
DHEA
Much has written about dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the non-medical media. Some is true, but more is false. It is sometimes called a “fountain of youth in a pill” in health magazines or you might read that it can cause breast or prostate cancer. Here’s the truth in three statements: 1) DHEA is just one of the hormones important to a comprehensive hormone replacement program; 2) its levels in your blood decline sharply and continuously from adolescence to old age; and 3) its decline has been linked with higher cardiovascular risk in men, weakened immune system function in both genders, diminished insulin sensitivity, and decreased levels of IGF-I (a growth hormone that helps with muscle development).
Human studies of DHEAS (the form of DHEA takes when circulating in the blood) that was returned to the levels of a 25 year old deliver impressive results in older adults. Results are also impressive in various disease states causing the DHEA level to be lower than expected for the age group. Research by Yen and Morales tested 13 men and 17 women aged 40 to 70 years for six months administering 50 mg of DHEA. Their patients increased lean muscle mass and reduced fat mass, although the fat loss was only seen in the men. Additionally, these patients experienced remarkable increases in how they perceived their own psychological and physical contentment. The same researchers also studied immune function to assess the effect of DHEA. In that study they discovered an increase in natural “killer cell” function (white blood cells that kill precancerous viruses and tumor cells). Other studies have been done as well and they document beneficial effects on lupus, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and pre-vaccination when DHEAS levels are brought in line with younger adult levels.
But how safe is it? It is so safe and relatively side-effect free that the FDA does not require a prescription for selling it. There is no evidence that DHEA use causes increased risks of breast or prostate cancer. Of course, but if someone already has those cancers DHEA can cause the tumor to increase in growth as the body converts it into estradiol and testosterone. To mitigate that possibility at OptiGenics, we screen for breast cancer (mammogram and breast exam) and prostate cancer (PSA and rectal exam) before prescribing therapy. The only side effects seen in our DHEA doses (amounts to return DHEAS levels to those of a 25 year old) are slight acne increase in a few patients predisposed to it and some women have increased hair growth. Both effects have been successfully resolved with dose reduction as we precisely customize an individual’s HRT program.
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