Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is manufactured by the adrenal glands. After producing it, the adrenal glands then release DHEA into the blood as DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S). It is then processed as used by other hormones.
How DHEA functions in the body is somewhat of a mystery. Studying it properly is difficult because DHEA works differently in different genders, and differs in women according to whether they are capable of menstruation or menopausal. Taking DHEA-S as a vitamin has lead to demonstrably higher amounts of testosterone and androstenedione, which are two hormones that are also steroids.
Medical research has shown taking supplements of DHEA leads to smaller amounts of fat mass in the body, without leading to loss of total weight. It may be effective in treating patients who have Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or clinical depression.
DHEA is naturally produced by the adrenal glands of the human body. It can be artificially manufactured and taken via supplementation, as either a pill or liquid. Some commercially available supplements advertise that they contain biologically produced DHEA products that are extracted from wild yams. However, the human body is not able to process these products to DHEA. That process can only be done in a laboratory.
by the Harvard School of Public Health
It has been asked by millions of people “If you eat a healthy diet, do you need to take vitamins?” Not very long ago, the common answer from most experts and professionals would have been an emphatic "no". However, today there's quite a bit of evidence that taking a daily multivitamin makes good sense for most adults.
by the Mayoclinic Staff
Given the popularity and availability of “high potency” amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes and herbs, it might seem like dietary supplements could replace food as a source of the nutrients the body requires. However, this is not the case.
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