Dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid hormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. Dehydroepiandrosterone is structurally similar to testosterone and estrone and can be easily converted into those hormones. In blood DHEA is found as its derivative
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S).
The production of the hormone peaks in early adulthood and declines with age. Interestingly it is the most abundant of all steroid hormones in humans.
The significance of the hormone in health and disease is not fully established.
It is postulated that substitution of it can be beneficial in a number of
disorders like :
However, there is too little scientific proof to advocate the use DHEA outside
specialist centres under careful observation of experts in the field of
endocrinology.
