Departments
Health Matters
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Week of 31 October 1997 |
Vol. I, No. 10 |
Health Matters
From the fountain of youth?
I have been reading lately about the antiaging drug DHEA. What does it really do?
The current buzz around DHEA (dehydroepiandrosteroneas) has to do with amazing claims that the drug is akin to an antiaging miracle. According to its proponents, taking DHEA will turn back the clock in a variety of ways, including enhancing memory, restoring energy, increasing sex drive, decreasing body fat, and reducing stress.
However, many physicians maintain that you should proceed with caution before rushing to stock up at health food stores. According to David Farb, professor and chairman of the pharmacology department at Boston University School of Medicine, much more evidence is needed to substantiate the claims. While early clinical trials and laboratory studies do suggest that supplements of DHEA may hold some promise for specific medical conditions in the elderly, such as atherosclerosis (blocking of the arteries), Alzheimer's disease, and stroke, no studies to date lead to the conclusion that the supplements will fend off aging in healthy individuals.
"While I don't want to take an anti-DHEA stance," says Farb, "I don't know of any evidence that taking it as a supplement will prevent aging or directly improve quality of life in any way. In effect, we just don't know exactly what it does."
What the scientific community does know is that the hormone is produced naturally in our bodies by the adrenal glands (located near the kidneys) and released directly into the blood. While scientists discovered DHEA more than 50 years ago, it has been in the news recently because researchers now know that declining DHEA levels after age 40 correlate to an in-creased risk of major medical problems, such as heart disease and failure of the immune system. This discovery has led to speculation that the hormone plays a role in aging and that keeping DHEA levels high will fend off the effects of growing older.
Manufacturers have capitalized on this speculation by promoting DHEA as a cure-all, taking advantage of the fact that the FDA neither regulates its use nor guarantees its safety because it is not considered a drug, but rather a "nutritional supplement." While some companies tout the supplements as an "antidote for aging," or a "superhormone," it has not been approved for any specific use by the FDA or any other medical organization. In addition, some companies are selling yam products as "natural DHEA" or "DHEA precusor complexes." Taking these supplements will have no effect on the DHEA levels in the body.
Furthermore, Farb worries that individuals are taking the supplements in doses too large for the body to handle effectively. "My impression is that people are taking doses that are thousands of times the amount that the body produces -- the more-is-better theory. In this case," he warns, "less is more." Such heavy doses could increase the risk of ovarian or prostate cancer. Women in particular should be concerned about taking DHEA: the body may convert excess amounts into androgens (male hormones) such as testosterone.
If you are still curious about DHEA, Farb recommends that you consult your physician before taking it or any supplements.
"Health Matters" is written in cooperation with staff members of Boston Medical Center. For more information on DHEA or other health matters, call 638-6767.