Nov 30 2010
Low DHEA Levels
DHEA and HRT
DHEA – dehydroepiandrosterone is a steroid hormone like progesterone and estrogen. It is another hormone in the body that declines as you grow older. DHEA is known as the “mother hormone.” The adrenal gland which produces about 150 hormones also produces DHEA. It is also produced in the brain. Estrogen and testosterone are made from DHEA. If the cortisol hormone is high, it will lower the levels of DHEA and progesterone. Diseases such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer, and allergies are corelated to the lowering of DHEA levels.
For this reason, if the levels of DHEA are low in the body, to maintain hormone balance and health – DHEA hormone levels should be supplemented. However, DHEA should never be taken without a doctor’s instruction and levels should be checked regularly in any hormone replacement therapy.
Symptoms of low DHEA are: heart disease, dry skin, erectile dysfunction, andropause, fatigue, feeling wired at night, lack of exercise, poor tolerance for exercise, poor memory or concentration, loss of muscle tone in arms and legs, difficulty maintaining or building muscle, loss of libido, depression, loss of motivation or competitive edge, autoimmune diseases, fat gain in the “love handles” area, fat gain around the belly, fat gain around the triceps, waking up between 2 and 4 a.m. (difficulty staying asleep), and use of corticosteroids.
DHEA should not be used alone in natural hormone replacement therapy (NHRT). This is the reason that one must have hormone tests to find out which hormones need replacing with bioidentical hormones. You cannot just take DHEA alone – all your hormone levels must be tested.
The benefits of supplementing DHEA include protection from such diseases as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, mental function and cancer. It also has antiaging benefits which include tissue repair. The correct levels of DHEA can increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, increase testosterone levels, decrease feelings of depression, and improve cortisol and adrenaline levels in cases of chronic stress. DHEA is the antidote to high cortisol levels which result from chronic stress. If your cortisol levels are high you should add DHEA to your HRT program.
DHEA can be purchased as an over-the-counter supplement in the U.S. However, it is not wise to take it without a doctor recommending you the dose you should be taking. DHEA can have negative side effects if you are not taking the correct dose. For women, facial hair growth, oily skin, acne, a deepening of the voice and increased sweating are the results of overdosing on DHEA. In both males and females, too much DHEA can lead to dangerously high levels of estrogen and testosterone which will lead to cancer, hair loss, aggression and anger. This is why you should not take it without a doctor’s instruction and without testing your overall hormone levels.
The goal of natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is balance by replacing the hormones levels that are low. All hormones work together in a kind of symphony and if one is out of balance, they will all be unbalanced and your health will not be at an optimum level.
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