The double blind study found that women, who took a single daily dose of 50 mg of DHEA, reported significant increases in how often they thought about sex, how interested they were in sexual activity, and their levels of both mental and physical sexual satisfaction. Not only did they report improved sexuality, these women also reported improvement in mental health issues such as obsessive-compulsive traits, depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions.
The study was conducted by measuring the women's responses to several questionnaires. The questionnaires asked women about their overall well-being and sexual response. Women answered the questions before the study began, and again at one and four months later.
The most significant improvements were seen four months after treatment began. "This delay in the action of dehydroepiandrosterone may explain why some recent studies found no psychological effects in normal subjects who were treated with dehydroepiandrosterone for two weeks," according to the Journal.
DHEA is a steroid hormone and the precursor of androgens (testosterone) in women. The adrenal glands produce the majority of DHEA present in women while the ovaries contribute a minimal amount of this powerful steroid hormone. Levels of DHEA naturally decrease as we age to the point that by the time we are eighty years old the amount of DHEA produced by the body is about five to ten percent of the amount produced at its highest level during youth and early adulthood.
Androgenic side effects were reported by almost 20 percent of the study participants. Side effects included greasy skin, acne, and increased body hair, as well as one woman who reported hair loss. As a result, the women who experienced hair loss took a reduced amout of DHEA and took the supplement every other day for the remainder of the study which resulted in an end to her hair loss.
Does this mean that you should supplement with DHEA as you get older?
The major problem with studies on DHEA, is that most studies have included only a small number of participants. Unfortunately, most studies of DHEA have not included a large number of participants.Another small study of 22 male and female patients diagnosed with major depresion was reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry. This study found a 50 percent decrease in depression in nearly half of the participants who took DHEA.
"Larger trials with a longer duration of treatment will be needed to evaluate the safety of long-term treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone. Because dehydroepiandrosterone is rapidly converted into potent sex hormones, treatment might be contraindicated in women with hormone-dependent diseases, such as breast cancer. Thus, it should only be taken under medical supervision," wrote the Journal.
Some believe that DHEA is useful for hormone replacement therapy during menopause and suggest taking low doses of this supplement. However, considerable controversy remains regarding supplementation with this powerful hormone and careful research is strongly advised before you begin taking this supplement.
Fantastic claims have been touted for DHEA. You may have heard that it can:
- increase your energy level,
- help you to lose
weight and burn muscle,
- slow down the aging process,
- boost the
immune system,
- and reduce your risk of cancer,
- heart disease,
- improve your memory, and a host of other symptoms.
However, scientists still do not understand how DHEA works, what its purpose is in the body, and whether DHEA is safe and effective.
A search for 'DHEA' on any search engine results in many pages of vendors of DHEA supplements. It's important to note before buying any of these products either online or at your local store that DHEA supplementation has not been approved by the FDA for any use, and because DHEA is classified as a dietary supplement, manufacturers of DHEA have no obligation to prove that their products are either safe or effective. Before trying any OTC supplements, it's always a good idea to discuss it with your health professional first.
Sources:
Wiebke Arlt, M.D., Frank Callies, M.D., Jan Christoph van Vlijmen, Ines Koehler, Martin Reincke, M.D., Martin Bidlingmaier, M.D., Doris Huebler, M.D., Michael Oettel, Ph.D., Michael Ernst, M.S., Heinrich Maria Schulte, M.D., and Bruno Allolio, M.D.; "Dehydroepiandrosterone Replacement in Women with Adrenal Insufficiency"; NEJM, Volume 341:1013-1020, September 30, 1999, Number 14; http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/341/14/1013; Accessed 06/18/07.
Owen M. Wolkowitz, M.D., Victor I. Reus, M.D., Audrey Keebler, B.A., Nicola Nelson, B.A., Mirit Friedland, B.A., Louann Brizendine, M.D. and Eugene Roberts, Ph.D.; "Double-Blind Treatment of Major Depression With Dehydroepiandrosterone"; Am J Psychiatry 156:646-649, April 1999; http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/156/4/646; Accessed 06/18/2007.
