Product Review: DHEA for Adrenal Support

What is DHEA?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It’s a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen in the body, although it may play other physiological roles, as well. It is sometimes called the, “mother hormone” — the source that fuels the body’s metabolic pathway.

Beginning at about age 30, levels of DHEA in both men and women begin to decrease, and by age 80, it’s estimated that approximately 95% of the hormone has been lost.

Some believe that this decline is responsible for the adverse consequences of aging and tout DHEA supplements as a sort of “fountain of youth.” DHEA, however, is not a general anti-aging solution. The trends associated with DHEA supplementation include the following health benefits:

• DHEA may also help reduce the risk of post-menopausal osteoporosis
• In elderly men and women DHEA may also increase skin thickness and hydration as well as decrease facial skin pigmentation
• DHEA may also improve erectile dysfunction in men who have low DHEA levels
• DHEA might be helpful for depression
• DHEA might also be helpful in chronic fatigue syndrome
• DHEA may enhance the effectiveness and reduce the side effects of medications used for treatment of schizophrenia

DHEA and Adrenal Fatigue

When your adrenal glands are fatigued, they simply can’t manufacture enough DHEA to balance the stress.

In that balanced state your mood is stable and you feel clear-headed, joyful and vigorous. DHEA is the best “feel-good” hormone we know. And it works quickly and effectively when taken with the right combination of support.

When DHEA levels are low, your body does not have enough working material for proper endocrine function. This throws off your hormone production and you feel a general sense of malaise, along with other symptoms of hormonal imbalance — how severe depends on how many other demands are being made on your body at the same time.

For those who need it, adrenal support with DHEA supplementation makes big difference and can be a critical component to jumpstarting hormonal balance.

After a hormone panel test from your doctor and tests indicate the need for DHEA supplementation, you can start off with as little as 5 mg, two times per day. It’s possible to slowly up the dosage, but rarely need to use more than 50 mg per day.

Quality is very important when choosing herbs and supplements. It really is worth a little more money, just a couple of dollars more can increase the effectiveness many fold.

Tried and Tested Adrenal Support

An independent testing lab found numerous DHEA products that did not contain the proper amounts of listed DHEA, one had double its listed and 3 products had less DHEA than claimed. Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests supplements for quality prior to sale.

These tested and approved products are crucial for your safety and consumption, below:

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  Amerifit DHEA
• Enzymatic Therapy Youthful You DHEA 5 mg
• KAL DHEA 25 mg
• Natrol DHEA 25 mg
• Nature’s Bounty DHEA 25 mg
• Physiologics DHEA
• TriMedica DHEA
• Ultimate Nutrition DHEA
• Vitamin Shoppe Specialties DHEA 50 mg

Be confident that your DHEA supplements are safe and actually what it says on the bottle with the above recommendations.  By taking DHEA, you can influence a better life for yourself by taking care of your adrenals.

Last Health Concern

One word of caution: women with hormone-sensitive diseases such as breast cancer should use DHEA with caution, as it can be converted into estrogen. There is also concern that long term and/or high-dose use might increase the risk of breast cancer.

Have you tried DHEA for adrenal fatigue?  What has been your experience, success or failure, supplementing with DHEA?