What is the difference between dhea and testosterone

Low levels are linked to several conditions, such as depression and sexual dysfunction. You can buy a synthetic form of DHEA in the form of oral tablets or topical creams.

Low levels of DHEA are linked to low bone density. But research looking at the effects of DHEA supplementation for bone health has found mixed results.

One review of studies found that DHEA supplementation may preserve bone density in older women but not in men. More research is needed to see if DHEA treatment is more favorable than estrogen therapy. However, the researchers drew their conclusions from three studies with small sample sizes. Your body produces most of its DHEA in your adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands also produce cortisol and aldosterone. Taking a DHEA may help increase quality of life in people with adrenal insufficiency.

Research has found that DHEA positively influences mood, subjective health status, and sexual health. A review of studies found that DHEA supplementation may lead to a small but significant improvement in the body composition of older men. Vaginal atrophy is a thinning of the vagina that often occurs during or after menopause due to a loss of estrogen.

A study has found that DHEA may improve symptoms of vaginal atrophy, but more research is needed to fully understand these effects. Doses of up to 50 mg of DHEA per day are often used in research. The highest dose of DHEA used in research was mg a day for 28 days.

The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding DHEA due to its potential for serious side effects and a lack of evidence to support its use. Taking a DHEA supplement may raise your levels of testosterone or estrogen that can have unwanted side effects. DHEA is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands that declines as you age. DHEA is a naturally produced hormone, but it can also be taken as a supplement.

This article looks at whether DHEA supplements are worth considering. However, female sexual dysfunction tends to be multifactorial and all contributing factors must be explored not just testosterone and DHEA levels. Hence the importance of testing for testosterone and DHEA levels. Saliva testing is preferred over blood or serum testing because the saliva measures bioavailable, active hormone levels.

Therefore saliva allows the measurement of hormones, which can be utilized by the cells. It gives the most accurate picture of what the body is able to utilize. Saliva testing is also painless no needles. Testing hormone levels is important because it correlates symptoms with exactly what is occurring hormonally.

For instance, some studies indicate that use of DHEA supplements may lead to an increase in testosterone levels that could help improve exercise performance. These include a study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology in , in which eight middle-aged men were given a DHEA supplement the night before completing a high-intensity interval training exercise program.

Results revealed that use of DHEA supplements appeared to increase testosterone levels and prevent those levels from declining during exercise. Other research on the use of DHEA supplements includes a small study published in the journal Urology in For the study, 40 patients from an erectile dysfunction clinic were randomly divided into two groups: the first group took a DHEA supplement every day for six months, while the second group took a placebo for the same time period.

Although those treated with DHEA supplements experienced a significant improvement in their ability to achieve or maintain an erection, the study's authors note that DHEA had no impact on testosterone levels. While little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of DHEA supplements to increase testosterone, many side effects are associated with DHEA supplements. These side effects include:. Taking DHEA supplements in high doses for extended periods of time is not recommended. DHEA supplements should only be taken under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthc are provider, with hormone levels being checked regularly.

Additionally, there's some concern that DHEA supplements may be harmful to people with conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease, as well as those with or at risk for hormone-sensitive conditions like prostate cancer.

DHEA may also interact with certain medications. Keep in mind that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. While consumers face such risks when purchasing any dietary supplement, these risks may be of greater magnitude in the purchase of products containing a variety of ingredients and marketed for bodybuilding or weight loss.

Also, the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Given the potential health risks, it's important to take caution when using DHEA supplements for any purpose. If you're considering the use of DHEA to increase testosterone, talk to your healthcare provider before starting your supplement regimen.

It may be worth investigating testosterone replacement therapy as an alternative since there is more data to support this with confirmed low testosterone levels. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.

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