Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is making inroads into the consciousness of the rapidly aging population. The reason for this surge of popularity stems from the anti-aging possibilities that are being discovered in the research into DHEA. Is this just another case of flash over substance, of myth over reality, of dreams over logic? Maybe not.
Dehydroepiandrosterone is simply a steroid that is produced naturally in the body. Something already found naturally inside your body may be a strange thing to warrant being tagged as the next Fountain of Youth. It is because DHEA levels decline as the years conduct their war of attrition on your body.
The idea is rather simple, some say too simple to work: Supplement the levels of Dehydroepiandrosterone that you lose naturally by consuming supplemental amounts. DHEA levels peak sometime around the legal drinking age and begins a quick decline sometime around the point where the belly starts protruding, the hair begins to recede and sexual performance requires pills instead of a good old-fashioned R-rated movie. In other words, between the ages of 35 and 40, give or take.
As an example of just how steep the decline is, consider that if you are lucky enough to hit the time of life when you start seriously losing your memory and complaining that food has absolutely no flavor anymore—around the mid-70s—your DHEA level can be over 80% less than it was at your peak when you no longer had to worry about getting carded at a club.
Sounds great, huh? Just start supplementing your aging body with the great stuff you had when you full of pith and vinegar. There is a problem, however. Most of the studies that indicate this could possibly work were not done on humans, but on animals; specifically rodents. While these studies have shown some promise in either delaying or actually preventing such problems as viral infections, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. That’s great news, no doubt, but then again humans aren’t all rats, are they?
DHEA is a steroid, of course, and that immediately raises concerns. The suggested dosage ranges from 5 to 50 milligrams a day. This relatively low dose has so far appeared to be safe when taken over the short term. The research on long term effects is still being studied, although a French report on women over 60 who took 50 mg a day for an entire year resulted in no significant problems.
Which isn’t to say that side effects haven’t been reported. Among the most commonly reported side effects are acne, increased perspiration, problems with menstruation, anxiety, and irritability. In addition, because androgenic hormones contribute to hair thinning, many people experience unwanted hair loss. Among the more serious possible side effects of talking DHEA are heart problems that could potentially be life-threatening.