DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced by your body’s adrenal glands. These are glands just above your kidneys. DHEA is an important hormone precursor meaning that your body will DHEA and make other hormones from it. Abnormal levels of DHEA can effect hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. DHEA levels decline with age and can cause a variety of health problems.
Many people who find themselves struggling with daily fatigue, nightly Insomnia, chronic pain, weight gain, thyroid problems suffer with adrenal imbalances. including excess or Low DHEA. What many don’t realize is just how powerful and detrimental prolonged stress is on the adrenal glands. Chronic stress whether real or perceived, taxes the adrenal glands to the point where you now suffer with more advanced stages of adrenal fatigue leading to low DHEA reserves.
Symptoms of Low DHEA
- Extreme fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Weight gain
- Decrease in muscle mass
- Decrease in bone density
- Depression
- Aching joints
- Loss of libido
- Low Testosterone in men and woman
- Lowered immunity
Lets Talk About Some of the More Common Low DHEA Symptoms
Weight gain
As we get older, our DHEA levels decline and weight loss becomes more challenging. DHEA levels fall with age in men and women, reaching values sometimes as low as 10%-20% of those encountered in young individuals. This age-related decrease suggests an “adrenopause” phenomenon. Supplemental DHEA, when levels have dropped, can help with weight loss.
Depression, Mood disorder, Anxiety, Brain Fog
Are your friends, coworkers, or spouse feeling complaining to you about your irritability, Do you feel anxious or overwhelmed lately? If so this may be another indicator of low DHEA. Hormonal imbalance is the number one cause of mood swings. Since your body uses DHEA to make both estrogen and testosterone, supplementation with DHEA has the ability to increase sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) in your body.
Supplementation with DHEA has been shown to help prevent or mitigate mood disorders, especially major depression, and to significantly improve cognitive and memory functions in older adults.
Atherosclerosis
In men with elevated cholesterol studies have shown that taking 25 mg of DHEA daily for 12 weeks produced an impressive 115% improvement in endothelial function. Endothelial function is a measure of arterial health and resistance to atherosclerosis. The same study showed significant 44% reduction in plasminogen activator inhibitor, which is a measure of blood-clotting potential. This important finding indicates an independent reduction in cardiovascular risk.
Decrease in Bone Density
Osteoporosis is a serious condition that leads to brittle bones. Evidence shows that DHEA supplementation in elderly women and men with a low level of DHEA can improve age-related changes in body composition due to aging. Overall it can improve bone health and athletic performance.
While there are so many befits to DHEA supplementation. We want to be smart in how and when we use it. The Goal of DHEA supplementation should always be to use the smallest dose possible to correct the imbalance or deficiency. It is also imperative to understand the root cause of why DHEA levels may be low. For these reasons testing cortisol and DHEA levels with an adrenal saliva test is so important.
Since excessive DHEA in the body can also bring negative results, DHEA supplementation is not always necessary or the best course of action for certain individuals even though DHEA levels are low. There are certain conditions like PCOS where supplemental DHEA may not be a good idea even though DHEA leves are low.
Assess your Risk for problems related adrenal problems and DHEA here
Symptoms and Side Effects Of Excessive DHEA
The most common DHEA side effects includes acne breakouts on facial and back skin, male pattern baldness, hair loss, stomach ache, emotional behavioral changes and high blood pressure as well. Even though in both men and women, side effects are similar but still there are few side effects in women that distinguishes them, which cover irregular menstrual cycle, excessive sweating, facial hair growth and ovarian infection.
One of the most common sex related benefits of DHEA supplement is the increasing production level of testosterone and estrogen in males and females. This could be a great things if your levels of testosterone or estrogen are low, but it could also cause unwanted hormonal problems. This is why its always best to test your hormone levels first.
According to recent research on the side effects of DHEA, it is suggested that DHEA is highly unsafe for any age group when it is consumed in high level doses and taken continuously for long period of time. It is always recommended to seek help from a Functional Medicine Practitioner, who uses 24 hour Adrenal Saliva Testing or bloodwork to assess baseline levels of DHEA. If DHEA levels are low and your functional medicine practitioner prescribes DHEA, DHEA levels should be retested within 90 days to ensure your dosage is correct and you are not being overdosed. This is one of the most common mistakes I see in practice.
Combined with nutritional support, dietary changes and lifestyle modification, DHEA supplementation (when needed) can make a huge difference in hormonal health.
Our Chronic Fatigue and Adrenal Recovery Program Is A Customized, Natural Treatment For People Who Suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, High DHEA, or Low DHEA.
We use advanced testing methods, nutritional supplements, Dietary modifications, Hormone and endocrine support formula, and lifestyle guidance.
To see if our Adrenal Recovery Program is right for you, schedule a Free 15 minute Phone Consult by filling out our online questionnaire.
Still have questions? Our Free 15 minute personalized Phone consult is a great place to start.
Because each person who suffers with symptoms of Fatigue, Brain Fog, hormonal imbalances, weight gain has a different root cause, Our office will personalize an Adrenal Restoration Program. This program will be based on your testing and tailored to your individual needs.
Learn more about natural treatment options for adrenal hormone imbalances Here
