What is dhea?  

DHEA is a hormone that is produced from the adreneal gland. It can be metabolized into testosterone or estrogen. DHEA is the most prevalent steroid hormone in the body. Low DHEA levels are associated with a range of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, Alzheimer's, and others. DHEA levels drop dramatically as people age. There are pronounced differences in the average DHEA levels of men and women, with women on average having lower DHEA levels.DHEA replacement therapy can restore youthful DHEA levels. No studies have been done on long term use of DHEA supplements. DHEA can cause higher than normal levels of androgens and estrogens and may potentially increase the risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other hormone sensative cancers. It is not recommended for regular use with out the supervision of a licensed health care professional.

Source(s):

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dhea/ns.


related resource: long-term care