What is DHEA Hormone and How Does It Affect Weight Gain?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) hormone is produced by the human body in the adrenal glands using cholesterol. DHEA is the prevailing steroid hormone in humans and a precursor that is converted by the body into other necessary hormones such as: androgen, testosterone, estrogen, estrone, and estradiol. It is believed that a healthy male produces between 10 and 15 mg of DHEA hormone each day. Women typically produce up to 20% less DHEA than men. Production of the DHEA hormone usually peaks between the ages of 18 and 25 and thereafter begins to decrease with age.

DHEA hormone increases the body's production of heat and lowers insulin. More carbohydrates are used in the production of heat leaving less to be transformed into body fat. Excessive carbohydrates stimulate the body to produce more insulin. Consequently, higher insulin levels prevent the body from releasing the fat stored in fat cells. Based on this information one could surmise that deficiency in DHEA has the potential to significantly contribute to hormonal weight gain.

The Supplementation of DHEA Hormone

Studies with laboratory rats have indicated that DHEA is effective in controlling obesity. Even though the results have not been as extraordinary in humans as they have been in animals, DHEA has still been consensually referred to by the public as an anti-obesity hormone. It is always important to consult with your physician before starting any supplemental regiment. It is likely that your physician will order tests to assess your body's levels of progesterone, DHEA, estrogens, testosterone, LH, prolactin, and FSH hormones before advising you to undergo any treatments.

DHEA hormone is offered in the form of tablets, capsules, intravenous injections, and topical creams. The dosage that is frequently administered ranges from 25 to 200 mgs daily. When the recommended dosage was adhered to, few side effects were reported from the oral consumption of DHEA supplements. Side effects could include but are not limited to fatigue, acne, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, nasal congestion, or irregular/rapid heart rate.

Since DHEA is a hormone related to other sex hormones, it is possible that users may experience side effects connected to hormonal activities, especially when taken in high levels over and extended period of time. Such effects in women may include masculinization, acne, facial hair, deeper voice, greasy skin, hair loss, or weight gain around the midsection. Men may experience increased aggression, testicular wasting, breast tenderness, or the development of more prominent breasts.

DHEA hormone supplements can be commercially produced from wild yams, a plant from the Dioscorea family, which abundantly grow in Mexico. This plant's extracts contain diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, which was successfully converted to DHEA in a laboratory. At this time, it is unknown if the human body is truly capable of converting diosgenin into DHEA.