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HOUSTON, TEXAS. DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone and DHEAS
(dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) are powerful steroid hormones which are
synthesized in the adrenal cortex in humans and a few other primates, notably
gorillas and chimpanzees. The synthesis of DHEA begins just prior to puberty,
reaches its peak at age 20 years, and then declines steeply from age 25 to 70
years. It is worth noting that laboratory animals such as mice, rats and guinea
pigs do not synthesize DHEA; this makes extrapolation of data obtained in animal
experiments with DHEA to humans somewhat tenuous. Dr. Peter Hornsby of Baylor
College of Medicine has just released a comprehensive report on DHEA. He
reviews the studies which have been done on DHEA supplementation in elderly
people. A study done at Baylor College found that DHEA supplementation
increases muscle strength and leads to a gain in lean body mass and a loss of
fat in older people. Other studies have found that DHEA improves immune
function and leads to an increased sense of well-being. The possible role of
DHEA in breast cancer is not clear. It is possible that high DHEA levels may be
protective against breast cancer in premenopausal women, but may actually
increase the risk in postmenopausal women - this, however, is still speculative.
Nevertheless, recent research suggests that DHEA might have a role to play in
hormone replacement therapy in older people. Dr. Hornsby concludes that while
DHEA and DHEAS may be important in young adult life it is not clear whether the
age-related decline actually leads to a deficiency which should be corrected by
supplementation. (92 references)
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