Pregnenolone & DHEA: What’s the link?

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Pregnenolone is a compound produced from cholesterol that helps make DHEA, a hormone that combats aging. As the body ages, the production of pregnenolone and DHEA decreases, leading to a decrease in sex hormones and major steroid hormones. DHEA supplementation may improve memory, physical stamina, and combat cancer cells, but results vary. Pregnenolone supplementation may help the body produce more sex hormones, but long-term studies are lacking. Seeking a doctor’s advice and testing hormone levels is recommended.

Pregnenolone is a compound produced from cholesterol that helps make dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The adrenal glands produce the hormone known as DHEA, a steroid hormone that has shown promise in combating the effects of aging. As the body ages, the production of pregnenolone and DHEA dramatically decreases due to their close metabolic relationship. Some studies have shown that pregnenolone and DHEA can help improve memory and aid cancer cell apoptosis, but no conclusive studies have yet been done to prove these claims.

In response to the production of pregnenolone, which is produced through the body’s cholesterol stores, DHEA is produced to assist in the production of the sex hormones. These hormones, testosterone and estrogen, also help differentiate between sexual characteristics. As the body ages, the production of pregnenolone and DHEA decreases, leading to a decrease in both the sex hormones and the production of the major steroid hormones. Sometimes an individual will supplement with DHEA in liquid or capsule form, but whether this can help increase pregnenolone and DHEA levels within the body is unknown.

The claims behind DHEA supplementation include improved memory, physical stamina, and aid in the fight against cancer cells through the use of cell apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Different studies on these claims produce conflicting results, hinting that DHEA supplementation might produce different results in different individuals. Some studies have also shown that DHEA can improve mood and combat depression, but this has also not been shown in subsequent trials. One study showed that DHEA may help prevent heart disease and improve heart function, although this may also be possible in individuals who respond positively to DHEA supplementation.

Pregnonolone supplementation may also provide some benefits to the body by helping it produce more sex hormones when estrogen and testosterone begin to wane. Supplementing with pregnonolone will also help the body make more DHEA, regardless of the need to supplement with each unless absorbability is an issue. There aren’t many long-term or large-scale studies showing the benefits or risks of supplementing with pregnonolone, so seeking a doctor’s advice is strongly recommended. Testing testosterone levels, if you are a man, or estrogen, if you are a woman, can also be a good marker to help an individual determine if they need supplementation.




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