|
DHEA Levels Decrease
as we Age
Investigators interested in the biology of aging have increasingly focused their attention on DHEA and its sulfated form, DHEA-S. Blood levels of DHEA/DHEA-S are high at birth, decline markedly, then rise early in puberty, and usually peak at around age 20 to 30.
DHEA levels then progressively decline as part of the ordinary aging process. By the age of 60, DHEA levels are only about 5– 15% of what they were at their peak. Human studies demon strate that DHEA supple mentation can bring circulating DHEA levels to those of peak adult years. On-going research is a continuing area of excitement and promise.
Exciting Animal Results with DHEA
Numerous experimental studies in
animals have demonstrated wide-
ranging beneficial effects of DHEA
supplementation. Further studies are
necessary to determine the extent to
which the results of animal studies
can be applied to humans.
Human Study Interest
These exciting animal study results have led investigators to speculate that some of the changes associated with human aging may be related to the well-known progressive age associated decline in circulating DHEA/DHEA-S. The relevance of these studies to humans remains an open scientific question, and the subject is of great interest and an on- going area of investigation.
DHEA, in fact, has become one of the most extensively studied substances in medical history. Areas of new investigations, new results, and new ideas and speculations regarding DHEA come out on a continuing basis in the medical and scientific press, in broadcast news programs, summaries in the popular health and consumer oriented press, and on the Internet. Prudence dictates that we should maintain a conservative attitude until peer reviewed scientific studies confirming this information become available.
DHEA Supplementation in Humans
Quality double-blind placebo-con - trolled cross-over human studies in male and females aged 40 to 70 have shown that DHEA supple mentation can restore circulating DHEA/DHEA- S levels to those found in young adults. Levels of supple mentation in these studies included either 50 mg or 100 mg daily supplementation.
Generally speaking women require lower amounts of DHEA as a supplement, because their bodies make less DHEA than do men. Owing to possible individual variability, it has been recommended that persons consider having their DHEA/DHEA-S levels checked by a blood test prior to and during the use of DHEA supplements to determine if supplementation is appropriate and to assure that the optimum level is being maintained, particularly in view of the variability of absorption of oral DHEA that has been noted in clinical studies.
Young healthy people usually do not need DHEA supplementation, unless recom mend ed by a licensed health care professional. There is no credible evidence that DHEA supple mentation enhances ath letic per formance in young healthy athletes of either sex.
PhytoZyme
®
Base
Endocryn DHEA is formulated in the proprietary Lifeplus PhytoZyme ® base, which contains a unique blend of over thirty natural ingredients including special herbs, synergistic phytonutrient cofactors from fruits and vegetables, plus plant enzymes for bioavailability.
When you take Lifeplus products, you have the added benefit of receiving the numerous health supporting phytochemicals and other micro nutrients contained in them. This unique “plus” in Lifeplus nutritional supplements helps to ensure that you are receiving benefits from those valuable phytonutrients. This is especially valuable for those who do not consume the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day
Additional Lifestyle Options to Ensure Health.
In addition to including Endocryn DHEA in your daily supplementation, you may want to include a multivitamin for additional nutritional support. Daily BioBasics™ Nutrition Concentrate or Daily BioBasics Veggie Caps™ is a wonderful companion product for just that reason.
Not only do you get at least 100% of the Recommended Daily Value of all the essential vitamins and minerals, you also get between 1/3 and 1/2 of the Recommended Daily Value of fiber depending upon whether you select the powder or the convenient Veggie Caps.*
HOW TO TAKE ENDOCRYN DHEA
For adults 18 years and older. Take one tablet a day. May take up to 3 per day if desired. This will provide 30 to 90 mg of DHEA.
REFERENCES:
1. Adrenal cortex, by Lynnette K. Nieman, in "Goldman's cecil Medicine", 24th Edition, Edited by Lee Goldman, MD and Andrew I. Schafer, MD, Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. Pages 1463-1470. " DHEA [Dehydroepiandrosterone] and DHEA-S [sulfated conjugate] are the most abundant products of the adrenal gland. They exert their estrogenic and androgenic effects as prohormones, being converted to estrogens and testosterone in the peripheral tissues and activating the androgen and estrogen receptors. There is no known regulator of DHEA synthesis, but its production declines with age."
2. common clinical Sequelae Of Aging, by Kenneth L. Minaker, Endocrine System, in "Goldman's cecil Medicine", 24th Edition, Edited by Lee Goldman, MD and Andrew I. Schafer, MD, Elsevier S aunders, Philadelphia, PA. Pages 104-110. "Dehydroepiandrosterone declines 85 to 90% by the age of 70 years, perhaps contributing to impaired immune or cardiovascular function."
3 . “DHEA: Unlocking the Secrets to the Fountain of Youth.” Beth M. Ley, BL Publications, Newport Beach, cA, 1996. And references cited therein.
4. “Endocrine interactions: adrenal steroids and precursors.” G.T. Taylor, J. Scherr3er, J. Weiss and J. Pitha, Am. J. Physiol., 266 (4 Pt 1): E676-681, 1994, Apr. [“Adrenal steroids may serve as e ndocrine regulators of androgen bioavailability and bioactivity.”]
5. “Inhibition of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase-I by dietary dehydroepiandrosterone.” M. Marrero, R.A. Prough, R.S. Putnam, M. Bennett and L. Milewich, J. Steroid. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 38 (5): 599-609, 1991, May. ["“ehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), administered per os, serves to prevent or retard the development of a variety of genetic and induced disorders in mice and rats.”]
6. “Steroid effects on central neurons and implications for psychiatric and neurological disorders.” F. Holsboer, A. Grasses, E. Friess and K. Wiedemann, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 746: 345-359; discussion 3 59-361, 1994, Nov 30. [“... steroids such as pregnenolone and DHEA most likely are produced in glia cells and act in a paracrine fashion at neurons, thus modifying the sleep EEP in humans in a manner that suggests their potential as memory enhancers.”]
7. “Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of depression.” O.M. Wolkowitz, V.I. Reus, E. Roberts, F. Manfredi, T. chan, W.J. Raum, S. Ormiston, R. Johnson, J. canick, L. Brizendine and H. Weingartner, Biol. Psychiatry, 41 (3): 311-318, 1997, Feb 1. [“Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEA-S, are plentiful adrenal steroid hormones that decrease with aging and may have significant neuropsychiatric effects.” ... “These preliminary data suggest DHEA may have antidepressant and promemory effects and should encourage double-blind trials in depressed patients.”
|
