How DHEA Benefits Health
DHEA is a steroid hormone produced in several organs of the body including the adrenal gland, gonads, and brain. DHEA declines naturally as we progress in age. The body produces the highest levels of DHEA when an individual is in their twenties. It is necessary for the production of other important hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen.
Major sources of DHEA are said to be wild yams and soy. Despite this, reports the body can use these foods for DHEA are widely disputed. Contrary to that, foods that may contribute to increased DHEA in the body include licorice root, fish, avocados, chia seeds, and nuts. The hormone is most notable from being reported to offer several health benefits. Continue reading for details.
Promotes Weight Loss
Researchers are currently looking into precisely how DHEA promotes weight loss. Some say the hormone boosts metabolism, which contributes to allows the body to burn fat. Researchers studied the hormone's effects in obese rats in a 2003 study. The rats were supplemented with DHEA for seventeen days, and researchers saw a significant reduction in body fat.
DHEA's effects on weight are also demonstrated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study featuring thirty-five overweight adults. The adults who took DHEA saw greater weight loss than the ones who received the placebo substance. In a series of double-blind placebo-controlled studies, researchers included 1353 elderly male participants, and in this study, DHEA supplementation was shown to produce a fairly significant reduction effect on body fat.
In addition, DHEA may contribute to weight loss by regulating appetite. A 2001 review details a handful of studies in which DHEA supplementation exhibited inhibitory effects on food intake in mice. In one study, DHEA caused an increase in dopamine and serotonin, the brain's neurotransmitters, which act as appetite suppressants.
Learn more about the health benefits of DHEA.
Benefits Alzheimer's Disease
In Alzheimer's disease, brain cells are lost, resulting in the loss of memory with other cognitive functions. In a 2012 review, the decline in DHEA, with testosterone, is linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. However, it is still possible other factors may be involved. DHEA's beneficial effects were tested in a 2011 study featuring female rats with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers saw an increase in brain acetylcholinesterase activity with 250 mg/kg supplementation. The decline of AChE activity is widely linked to cognitive impairment.
In a different study from 2014, DHEA was demonstrated to improve memory in male rats with vascular dementia. It is widely believed DHEA improves memory due to its inhibitory effects on cortisol, a hormone that the body produces in response to stressful events. The hormone can contribute to memory loss.
Continue for more details on the ways in which DHEA can influence health now.
