Dangers of Dhea

Dhea is an endogenous hormone which serves as a precursor to the male and female sex hormones, androgens and estrogens respectively. It is regarded as a neurosteroid which exerts an effect on the gene expression through intracellular steroid hormone receptors. Its levels begin to decrease precipitously after the age of 30 and is observed to be quite low in people suffering with end-stage kidney disease, anorexia, type 2 diabetes, AIDS, or some adrenal insufficiency. Dhea levels can also fall due to the intake of some drugs like corticosteroids, danazol, insulin and opiates. Low levels of dhea can cause headaches, chronic fatigue, infections and depression.

Dhea is known for its anti-cancer and anti-obesity influence. It stabilizes nerve cell growth and has beneficial effects in many chronic conditions like Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and disorders of the immune system. It preserves the normal sex hormone levels, subdues the effects of stress, and enhances the generation of antioxidant enzymes in the liver. It improves the immune system of the body and helps fight diseases and infections. Dhea assists the body in burning calories for energy, rather than storing them as fat.

Dangers of Dhea

The side effects of dhea are as follows:

• Some people taking dhea have experienced unusual cardiac symptoms like palpitations, abnormal heartbeat, skipping beats or high blood pressure. These symptoms are often observed in people taking high doses of dhea i.e, more than 10 mg per day.
• Some consumers have experienced hormonal changes in their body. In women, these changes can be masculine traits like hair loss, mood changes, breast enlargement or tenderness, facial hair, menstrual changes, chest hair, deeper voice and increased sweating. In men, there have been reports of reduced sperm count and infertility. Both men and women may go through hormone-related headaches and acne.
• It has been observed that dhea interrupts the liver's ability to process some drugs and medicines which leads to the release of drugs into the bloodstream. These medications include glucose lowering medications, birth control pills, cancer medications, heart medications, blood clot medications like aspirin and heparin, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and herbal supplements. Hence, you should always consult a doctor or pharmacist before using dhea with any other medication.
• Children naturally have a high level of dhea in their bodies and should avoid the intake of dhea supplements. These supplements abnormally increase the level of dhea and sex hormones in the body which can lead to stunted growth, premature puberty, increased risk for ovarian, breast, uterine or prostate cancers.
• Dhea supplementation is not recommended during pregnancy as it increases the risks of miscarriage. Since it is not safe for infants, it should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers.

Though, these supplements are easily available over-the-counter in doses up to 100 mg, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking these supplements as they are not safe in the long run. According to research, 5 mg to 10 mg per day is the maximum recommended dose for an adult.

Dhea supplements are available in the form of pills, creams and even tea, and are often prescribed to people with depression, adrenal insufficiency, lupus, etc. They don't promise to help people live longer, but elevate the mood and improve the quality of life by delaying some of the effects of aging and generate a sense of well-being.