Dr. Lam Author of
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DHEA
Michael Lam, MD, MPH
www.DrLam.com
| Before You Begin
Information presented here is for general
educational purposes only. Each one of us is biochemically and metabolically
different. If you have a specific health concern and wish my personalized
nutritional recommendation, write to me by clicking
here. |
What Is DHEA?
DHEA is the most abundant of all
steroids and is released from the adrenal glands. DHEA is involved in the
manufacturing of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and corticosteroids.
The decline of DHEA parallels that of growth hormone. By age 65, the body
makes only 10-20% of DHEA that was made at age 20. It has been shown in
animal studies to act as an agent of anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-autoimmune
disease, anti-stress, anti-infectious disease. In other words, it is an
all around anti-aging drug. It may also boost the function of the brain
as the brain tissue contains 6 times more DHEA than any other tissue in
the body.
 Who should take DHEA?
The most common use of DHEA is
for people who want to take it as hormone replacement therapy. This is particularly
true for women than men, as they
experience a more significant drop in hormones during peri-menopausal
and post menopausal years. Supplementation with DHEA can improve wellbeing,
energy levels, moods, and libido.
When to start?
You can usually start after age
40, but for those who need more energy; you can start in the mid-thirties
as well. For those who are younger, it is a good idea to get a blood
DHEA-sulfate for baseline before commencing.
When to take
DHEA?
It's best to take DHEA during
the morning due to its energy enhancing
effects.
What dosage?
Different doses appear to do
different things. Low dosages ( 15- 25 mg)
tend to bring improved specific health benefits and well-being.
High dosages ( 100-200 mg or more) can lead to a repartitioning of body
mass as a result of the conversion of the DHEA into more androgenic steroid hormones.
 Should athletes take DHEA
for muscle mass enhancements?
That is not too good an idea
because there are much better alternative means, such as using creatine.
Should pregnenolone
be used together with DHEA?
Many on the forefront of anti-aging
research are advocating the use of both pregnenolone and DHEA, both in low
doses. 15 mg to 25 mg each of pregnenolone
and DHEA seems to do the trick in many women to bring them a renewal sense
of well-being. Men are less hormone sensitive and the results
may not be as evident. For men, direct testosterone precursors such as androstenedione
( and its metabolite androstenediol ) may be more effective.
Are there any drug
interactions between DHEA and prescription medications?
Since DHEA is a slight mood elevator,
it could potentially clash with anti-depressants. Theoretically, the dosage of anti-depressants
could be lowered if DHEA is taken. People on cholesterol
lowering drugs as well as blood thinning medications, such as
coumadin, may need to watch their medications, as well as the requirements,
because these may well be reduced since DHEA has both a cholesterol lowering
and blood thinning effect. Studies have shown that DHEA
also reduces appetite, so those who want to lose weight may benefit from
DHEA, and those who are already on weight reduction pills may need less.
 Can DHEA be taken long term?
There are currently no long term
studies to conclusively lead us to the proper conclusion. In hormonal
replacement therapy, it is important not to overdo it. Low dose
DHEA supplementation, if monitored with blood test to ensure physiological
level, is very safe and an effective anti-aging tool.
| Message from
Dr. Lam
I hope you have enjoyed reading this
article. If you have areas you don’t understand, or if you have a specific health concern, feel free to write
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About The Author
Michael Lam, M.D., M.P.H., A.B.A.A.M. is a specialist in Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. He also holds a Masters of Public Health degree and is Board Certification in Anti-aging Medicine by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has authored numerous articles and the following books: The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity, How to Stay Young and Live Longer, Estrogen Dominance - Hormonal Imbalance of the 21st Century, and Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine.
For More Information
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at www.DrLam.com. Feel free to email
Dr. Lam by clicking here if you have any questions.
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© 1999-2009 Michael
Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
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