Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid hormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. Dehydroepiandrosterone is structurally similar to testosterone and estrone and can be easily converted into those hormones. In blood DHEA is found as its derivative dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S).

The production of the hormone peaks in early adulthood and declines with age. Some theorize this decline may be due to reduced oxygen and glucose delivery to the adrenal glands as a result of age-related atherosclerosis of the relatively small arteries leading to the adrenals. Interestingly it is the most abundant of all steroid hormones in humans.

The significance of the hormone in health and disease is not fully established. It is postulated that substitution of it can be beneficial in a number of disorders like :

• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• hypercholesterolemia
• obesity
• multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• disorders of the immune system
• depression
• osteoporosis

However, there is too little scientific proof to advocate the use DHEA outside specialist centres under careful observation of experts in the field of endocrinology. Side effects may include male breast enlargement and female hairiness.

Regular exercise is known to increase the amount of DHEA in the body. (Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1998 Oct;78(5):466-71), (Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001 Jul;85(1- 2):177-84), (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002 Apr;57(4):B158-65). Caloric restriction has also been shown to increase DHEA in primates (Exp Gerontol. 2003 Jan-Feb; 38(1-2):35-46).

External links

The DHEA Debate: A critical review of experimental data (http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_cover_dhea_01.htm)