by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield

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DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an androgenic hormone produced by the adrenals, to a degree under ACTH control, in amounts higher than any other adrenal hormone. The blood level of DHEA rises to a maximum between 20 and 35 years, levels off, and starts to fall after middle life; it may be almost absent by the late 70’s. (DHEA is usually measured in the form it mostly takes in the body: DHEA-sulphate or DHEA-S; for simplicity I shall drop the sulphate.) Have a look at the metabolic pathway below.

The arrows show a chain of hormones being made from cholesterol, and one into another, under the action of enzyme systems. As a result of genetic failures, or metabolic illness, these systems may not work properly: and one or more stages may be partly or totally lost. The flow chart shows where an enzyme block can prevent the production of cortisol from progesterone or cortisol from androstendione.

It is the DHEA sulphate which does all the work, but in the discussion we will drop the sulphate. You will notice that DHEA can be turned into either testosterone or oestrogen. (A metabolite called 7 Keto DHEA, of which more later, cannot be converted in this way.) So that giving supplementary DHEA will have an effect on our sex hormone levels. It is likely that women will have extra oestrogen as a result (restoring levels to normal), and men extra testosterone; it is tempting to suggest that whatever is low will be improved. (Remember that men have oestrogen (less than women) and women have testosterone (less than men). Although in general men do not need extra oestrogen, women can benefit from testosterone in two ways, one because of its useful effect on the circulation and anabolism (tissue building), and two, it has a powerful role to play in the maintenance of the libido. One interesting thing to start with: the amount of DHEA made in the body is directly related to age; the older you are, the less you have. Cause and effect? We don’t know for definite although most authorities working in this field think so; but of course the sex hormone levels (of which DHEA is a precursor) also decline with age.

Research continues on the actual biologic role of DHEA. First obesity. Several studies have shown that weight loss occurs with DHEA, basically because it improves the calorie burning levels in our so-called “Brown Fat” (Brown Fat is where the body gets rid of surplus calories, turning them into heat); DHEA improves this. Possibly a related effect seems to be an anti-atherogenic effect; the ageing of arteries by arteriosclerosis is halted. Death rates, at least in men, from coronary heart disease have been found to be lessened. Noticeable too is a reduction in excess cholesterol and low density lipo proteins, which are the “nasty” triglycerides linked to cardio vascular disease.

At least as interesting is a reducing effect on carcinogenesis, most notably breast cancer. Growth of tumour is definitely reduced. The inhibition of an enzyme which is increased in cancer, glucose-6-dehydrogenase is well documented. Another study showed that women with low DHEA were more likely to contract breast cancer than those where it was normal.

Other workers have targeted the central nervous system and found that DHEA acted as a neural facilitator; that is memory and thinking were improved where DHEA was previously low. There was also a study showing a slowing in the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease; survival of neurones was significantly improved. Discernible improvement was also found in Multiple Sclerosis sufferers, and another study showed improvement in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Although these are early studies, they were statistically significant in their finding, and should be taken seriously. Further studies are continuing.

Animal studies have shown an improvement in immune response, when DHEA was added to their diets. Not only did they fight infection better, but were more likely to overcome illness in general, including cancer. Another interesting effect was found in reducing the need for treatment of diabetes.

Workers in Holland found that DHEA may protect against certain viral infections, including a modest inhibitory effect on HIV – 1 (the Aids virus). Of great interest in this study, was that people with high DHEA levels didn’t contract the syndrome as readily as those with low levels.

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