DHEA For Men: Benefits And Side Effects

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural hormone produced by the adrenal gland and peaks around age twenty, starting to decline after age thirty. Its supplement is made from soy or wild yam. It is sought after by many people to increase libido, improve sexual performance, combat the effects of aging, increase muscle mass and affect all functions dependent on testosterone. Also, DHEA is used to treat hormonal imbalances.

Due to its wide dissemination as a magical fountain of youth, the demand for DHEA has grown exponentially, leading to doubts about its real effects. DHEA supplements are used by people seeking muscle gains, sexual vitality, fighting the effects of aging, and improving some health conditions. However, there is insufficient evidence that these benefits are actual.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that DHEA is an anabolic drug that is subject to exceptional control. However, in many countries, it can freely sell DHEA, such as in the United States, for example, where DHEA can be purchased at any food supplement store.

DHEA: Deficiency

Long-lasting stress also has an impact on the decrease in DHEA in the body. In an emergency, cumulative tension, the adrenal glands are mainly occupied with the production of cortisol - commonly known as the stress hormone - and do not supply enough DHEA.

DHEA deficiency makes our response to stress worse:

• You may have trouble sleeping,
• You can get irritable
• Depressed and dejected feeling.

DHEA: Increase In The Amount Of DHEA In The Blood

Increasing the amount of DHEA in the blood has an antidepressant effect. Studies have shown that the administration of DHEA supplements helps people suffering from depression. Patients feel better even in the first week of treatment. DHEA affects the same receptors in the brain affected by anxiolytics ( benzodiazepines ) used to treat depression.

DHEA Benefits

Few well-designed studies attest to the effects of DHEA supplements.

There is no evidence to support using a DHEA supplement as an anti-aging medication or to help with weight loss. The supplement also appears not to affect increasing libido, increasing muscle strength, or protecting against Alzheimer's disease.

However, there is research to support the usefulness of DHEA supplements under certain conditions. Here are some of them.

• It can help fight ogsteoporosis.

Taking DHEA orally may favor increased bone density in older women and men with osteoporosis. A 2002 study published in the Chinese Medical Journal reported that 44 men with osteoporosis experienced a significant increase in bone density after six months of treatment compared to the control group.

• It May have effects on mood and schizophrenia.

According to a 2003 study by the Archives of General Psychiatry, increasing DHEA levels can help lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with schizophrenia. According to the study authors, DHEA may also help improve mood and increase well-being and energy in schizophrenia.

• Can contribute to erection

Although few studies have tested DHEA in patients with erectile dysfunction, one of them shows that men who received a daily dose of the supplement for six months had a significant improvement in their ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

On the other hand, patients in the control group did not have any kind of improvement.

DHEA: Side Effects

DHEA is a hormone that must be used under medical supervision. Children and pregnant women should not use it. The indiscriminate use of this substance can be harmful. Some of the side effects presented after taking the DHEA supplement are:

• Heart rate acceleration
• You may develop acne.
• Mood change with a tendency to aggressiveness in men
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Breast enlargement and tenderness in men
• Growth of facial hair in women
• Nasal congestion
• Abdominal pain
• Voice thickening in women
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Palpitations
• Oily skin
• Loss of hair

Drug Interactions

DHEA supplements may increase the effects of drugs such as AZT (for HIV treatment), barbiturates, cancer drugs, estrogen, oral contraceptives, testosterone, and benzodiazepines.

In addition, supplements can also have unpredictable effects when taken in conjunction with medications such as corticosteroids, insulin, lithium, allergy medications, anti-fungal medications, cancer medications, and cholesterol.

When To Take DHEA Supplementation? DHEA Standard

Before you reach for DHEA supplements, do your research to ensure you do not have enough DHEA in your body. You do not need to be on an empty stomach to donate blood, but one should test the DHEA level in the morning because this hormone is most active in the morning.

If the test is for DHEA-SO4, you can do the test at any time because this hormone shows a constant daily concentration in the blood serum. Its level is determined by blood analysis.

The norm of DHEA in the serum of a healthy person ranges from 7 to 31 nmol / l (200-900 ng/dl). The DHEA-SO4 standard ranges from 2 to 12 µmol / L (75-470 µg / dL) and varies slightly by gender.

Conclusion

Naturally present in the body, but without being constant throughout life, the replacement of DHEA or use for specific purposes can make it an ally of your health. Considered a great neuroprotector, the DHEA supplement is a simple way to neutralize the consequences of some short or long-term problems. Increasingly popular, this supplement raised doubts about its function and side effects, as there are no more in-depth studies on them. Still, with follow-up and without overdose, it is possible to make DHEA a valuable wellness agent.