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An alternative ingredient that has risen in popularity today is dihydroepiandrosterone ("DHEA"). DHEA is a naturally occurring weak androgenic steroid hormone, produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. DHEA is chemically similar to testosterone and estrogen and is easily converted into those hormones. DHEA production peaks in early adulthood and declines in production with age in both men and women. Thus, many diseases which correlate with age also correlate with low levels of DHEA production. DHEA has many benefits including the facilitation of weight loss. It has also been used in the prevention of the signs of aging, improving sexual function, improving athletic performance and strength, treating osteoporosis and depression, and improving immunomodulation for rheumatologic conditions. Recommended dosages include 25 to 1600 milligrams per day. Investigators from the Medical College of Virginia published a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled weight loss trial with DHEA. Several men received 1600 milligrams of DHEA per day for 28 days. This dose resulted in a 3-fold increase in DHEAs and a 2-fold increase in androstenedione. At the end of treatment, the DHEA subjects demonstrated a 31% decrease in fat mass (by anthropometrics) with no change in total body mass. In addition, the test group also showed a 7.5% decrease in LDL cholesterol levels. |