Dehydroepiandrosterone, also known as Dhea, is one of the most important hormones in our body. Secreted by the adrenal gland, Dhea works in relation to the estrogens and androgens. It serves as a precursor which means that if you do not have enough Dhea then other hormones are greatly affected. It is at the age of 30 that the Dhea that your body produces starts to decrease, but others with diseases such as Anorexia, Type 2 Diabetes and AIDS already have low Dhea.

Taking Dhea supplements have become increasingly popular because of the fact that not only does it help to keep our estrogens and androgens in good working ability, but it also can be used as a treatment for other illnesses such as depression and adrenal insufficiency. In general though, it is thought to be an effective anti-aging regimen. With the decrease in Dhea over time, you also lose muscle mass and have a decreased bone density as well as immune function. By supplementing with the proper doctor supervision, you are able to build back your muscle strength, endurance, energy as well as glucose tolerance as you age.

It is also being studied as a way to help treat depression. When taking Dhea it can improve your overall symptoms of depression and help to give you a general well-being that is often missing with this illness. Lastly, it has been proven that Dhea is a great treatment for menopausal symptoms. When women’s estrogens decreases the symptoms of menopause can be quite severe but by taking Dhea regularly it can help to reduce the hot flashes and other estrogens related problems. Keep in mind that in both women and men, it will raise the estrogens and androgen levels and should be supervised to make sure you aren’t getting too much of a good thing.