DHEA

Factual Questions
1

I understand what DHEA is and that it is a good diet supplement to people over the age of 40 but what would happen if someone under the age of 25 where to take it? is that safe?

Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB

2

Joey,

I found a few links that might be helpful. Nothing specifically addressed the age issue (re: taking it at 25 vs. 40) but there may be something there that will answer your questions.

www.nutritionreporter.com/DHEA.html
www.raysahelian.com/dhea.html
www.healthcentral.com
At this site, I did a search on DHEA and it pulled up quite a few articles.
Hope you find what you’re looking for.

…it has never been my way to bother much about things which you can’t cure.

  • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court-Mark Twain
3

And here’s some more links for ya. For one thing, don’t jump to the conclusion that DHEA is a “good diet supplement” even for people over 40.

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/dhea.html
http://www.quackwatch.com/cgi-bin/mfs/24/home/sbinfo/public_html/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/slim/98.html?18#mfs
http://www.quackwatch.com/cgi-bin/mfs/24/home/sbinfo/public_html/04ConsumerEducation/CHUpdates/ch23.html?10#mfs

4

DHEA and DHEA-S (S for sulfate) are weak androgens (testosterone-like hormones) produced by the adrenal gland. There are good studies which show that the adrenal gland gradually quits making androgens as we age (called adrenopause as in menopause, which is lack of ovarian sex hormone production). There are bad studies which suggest that taking DHEA & DHEA-S give people more pep, more muscle mass, less weight gain, and otherwise slow down the otherwise inevitable effects of aging. I say bad studies because they have not been well-controlled & have not met the strict standards of “science” established by leading medical journals.

Bad studies, however, sometimes give good results & there may well be some benefit to taking DHEA and/or DHEA-S or “Andro”(Androstenedione) or growth hormone or other hormonal products to make us stay “young”. How much of the benefit is real & how much is expectation (placebo effect) is not well known. Neither are potential risks to taking androgens for 40 years or so.

In general, a gym membership, if used properly, will accomplish the same thing with no adverse effects, & and for less $$$$.

Sue from El Paso
members.aol.com/majormd/index.html

5

Majormd said:

Oh, sure, but that requires work. Why work if you can just pop a few pills?

6

[[In general, a gym membership, if used properly, will accomplish the same thing with no adverse effects, & and for less $$$$.]]

[[Oh, sure, but that requires work. Why work if you can just pop a few pills?]]

Work? Hah. I see it as play.

7

I asked one of my friends if he had heard of DHEA and he said “yea, it makes yer dick hard,” anyone know anything about that??? (again, in people under the age of 25)

Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB