Dhea

[fullarmor]

Just wondering if anyone has any input on DHEA. Have you taken it? Did you get positive results? Side effects? What brand and dosage did you use? Thank you in advance.

[*STEVE*]

My doc has me taking that along with my regular HRT and comes as a script for me ... if your prone to acne stay far , far away from it.

[yakabebe]

Originally Posted by fullarmor

Just wondering if anyone has any input on DHEA. Have you taken it? Did you get positive results? Side effects? What brand and dosage did you use? Thank you in advance.

FWIW - unless you are in a real deficit situation in relation to your testosterone levels - given your age - I'd see DHEA useless in terms of any body building reason.

Perhaps in other ways - perhaps - such as immune system and other allied ageing issues - maybe...but as a means to gain lean mass - not likely at all.

Thats not to say the manufacturers and sellers wont tell you otherwise. But at the recommended dosage levels - you can expect nada as a BB.

As far i can recall the only study that showed its capacity to affect fat levels was done a while back an the dosage levels form memory was around 1500 mg p/d - given the Rec dose is circa 50-100mg. and even then.. the results were inconclusive

I'll see if I can find the reference.

[yakabebe]

Originally Posted by yakabebe

FWIW - unless you are in a real deficit situation in relation to your testosterone levels - given your age - I'd see DHEA useless in terms of any body building reason.

Perhaps in other ways - perhaps - such as immune system and other allied ageing issues - maybe...but as a means to gain lean mass - not likely at all.

Thats not to say the manufacturers and sellers wont tell you otherwise. But at the recommended dosage levels - you can expect nada as a BB.

As far i can recall the only study that showed its capacity to affect fat levels was done a while back an the dosage levels form memory was around 1500 mg p/d - given the Rec dose is circa 50-100mg. and even then.. the results were inconclusive

I'll see if I can find the reference.

A quick search...i dont have Alzheimers just yet...

A double-blind trial found 1,600 mg per day decreased body fat and increased muscle mass in younger (obese) men (136) .

However, DHEA has not been effective for improving body composition in women or in other studies of men.(137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144)

136. Nestler JE, Barlascini CO, Clore JN, Blackard WG. Dehydroepiandrosterone reduces serum low density lipoprotein levels and body fat but does not alter insulin sensitivity in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988;66:57?61.
137. Percheron G, Hogrel JY, Denot-Ledunois S, et al. Effect of 1-year oral administration of dehydroepiandrosterone to 60- to 80-year-old individuals on muscle function and cross-sectional area: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:720?7.
138. Wallace MB, Lim J, Cutler A, Bucci L. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:1788?92.
139. Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Sharp RL, et al. Effect of oral DHEA on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men. J Appl Physiol 1999;87:2274?83.
140. Morales AJ, Haubrich RH, Hwang JY, et al. The effect of six months treatment with a 100 mg daily dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on circulating sex steroids, body composition and muscle strength in age-advanced men and women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1998;49:421?32.
141. Vogiatzi MG, Boeck MA, Vlachopapadopoulou E, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone in morbidly obese adolescents: effects on weight, body composition, lipids, and insulin resistance. Metabolism 1996;45:1011?5.
142. Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SS. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;78:1360?7.
143. Mortola JF, Yen SS. The effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone on endocrine-metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;71:696?704.
144. Usiskin KS, Butterworth S, Clore JN, et al. Lack of effect of dehydroepiandrosterone in obese men. Int J Obes 1990;14:457?63.

[yakabebe]

#137 as reference interested me as it applied a 50mg dose p/d FOR a YEAR in elderly and hence DHEA deficient men

Result...:

Percheron G, Hogrel JY, Denot-Ledunois S, Fayet G, Forette F, Baulieu EE, Fardeau M, Marini JF; Double-blind placebo-controlled trial.Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.

This study determines if 1-year administration of a replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone, 50 mg/d, orally administered, could have a beneficial influence on several determinants of the muscular function altered during aging.

RESULTS: The results give evidence that dehydroepiandrosterone administration restores dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate serum concentrations to the normal range for young adults (aged 20-50 years). However, no positive effect inherent to dehydroepiandrosterone treatment was observed either on muscle strength or in muscle and fat cross-sectional areas.

CONCLUSIONS: The compensation of the deficit of dehydroepiandrosterone during aging using a 50-mg/d dose does not induce beneficial effects on muscle state in healthy subjects. The conditions in which dehydroepiandrosterone could contribute to preserve or improve muscle strength and morphological features still need to be determined.

[Fifty+]

As you can see from the responses to your question, the results one receives/benefits from supplements are purely subjective to the user. Everyone's chemistry and physiology differ. I do cycle dhea among other supplements and have been using it for years. I've been using 100mg. a day for years and do so because I believe it contributes to my over all well being. If you want to know if a supplement has any affect, experiment and use it. Otherwise, you be reading scientific experiments and opinions.

[dkemano42]

Originally Posted by yakabebe

Perhaps in other ways - perhaps - such as immune system and other allied ageing issues - maybe...but as a means to gain lean mass - not likely at all.

^^^^ This is the only reason I take it. I do 100 mg a day just to help with immune system, supporting insulin function, increasing bone density, promoting mental health....basically for aging related issues.

DK

[fullarmor]

Wow, thank you everyone! Much appreciated. It's nice to have people give real, thoughtful answers for once, instead of "You're a dumb-ass for wanting to take such and such supplement." Much appreciated guys, and all the best with your individual goals!