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The
NIA recognizes that some hormone-like products are available
over-the-counter and may be used without consulting a
physician. The Institute discourages individuals from
self-medicating with these products for a number of reasons.
First, these products are marketed as "dietary supplements,"
and therefore are not regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration in the same way as drugs. This is an
important distinction because the requirements for marketing
a dietary supplement are very different from those that
apply to hormones marketed as drugs. Unlike drug
manufacturers, a firm selling dietary supplements doesn't
need FDA approval of its products and doesn't need to prove
that its products are safe and effective before marketing.
Also, there are no specific good manufacturing practice
requirements for dietary supplements. Because of these
differing standards, hormone-like substances may not be as
thoroughly studied as drug products, and, therefore, the
potential consequences of their use are not well understood
or known. In addition, these over-the-counter products may
interfere with other medications you are taking.
Therefore,
the NIA does not recommend taking any supplement, including
DHEA and melatonin, that is touted an "anti-aging" remedy
because no supplement has been proven to serve this purpose.
The influence of these supplements on a person's health is
unknown, particularly when taken over a long period of
time.
So talk
to your doctor if you are interested in any form of hormone
supplementation. In fact, you might want to show this fact
sheet to your doctor to help explain your
concerns.
Part
4: How Hormones Work
Adapted
from the National Institute on Aging
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