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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural hormone that can also be taken as a supplement. DHEA levels are thought to decline by up to 80% between the ages of 25 and 75, and this decrease is associated with a loss of muscle mass and strength. Some studies suggest that DHEA supplements can enhance the effects of weight training on muscle mass and strength in elderly individuals. However, other studies indicate that DHEA alone does not increase muscle size or strength. This article will explore the available research on the effects of DHEA on muscle and discuss the potential benefits and risks of using DHEA supplements for muscle growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| DHEA full form | Dehydroepiandrosterone |
| DHEA type | Hormone, Supplement |
| DHEA effect on muscle mass | Conflicting data, but DHEA enhances the effects of weight training |
| DHEA effect on muscle strength | Conflicting data, but DHEA enhances the effects of weight training |
| DHEA effect on testosterone levels | Increases testosterone levels |
| DHEA effect on fat mass | Limited effect on reducing fat mass, but 7-Keto DHEA shows promise |
| DHEA effect on bone density | Improved bone density in older women |
| DHEA effect on depression | May be associated with increased symptoms of depression in middle-aged women |
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What You'll Learn
- DHEA supplements increase testosterone levels but not muscle size
- DHEA replacement therapy enhances muscle strength in elderly women and men
- DHEA improves bone density in older women
- DHEA may improve ovarian function and fertility in women
- DHEA activates the glucose metabolism-related signalling pathway in skeletal muscle
DHEA supplements increase testosterone levels but not muscle size
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural hormone that can also be taken as a supplement. DHEA is a precursor to the sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen. Taking DHEA as a supplement increases the levels of these hormones in the body. However, despite increasing testosterone, DHEA does not increase muscle size.
DHEA levels decline by up to 80% between the ages of 25 and 75. This decrease in DHEA is associated with a decrease in muscle mass and strength that comes with ageing. This has led to research into whether DHEA supplements could increase muscle mass.
Some studies have found that DHEA supplements, in combination with weight training, can increase muscle strength in elderly individuals. However, DHEA alone does not appear to have a significant effect on muscle size or strength. One study found that DHEA therapy, in combination with weightlifting training, increased muscle strength. However, DHEA alone for six months did not significantly increase muscle strength or thigh muscle volume.
While DHEA supplements do not increase muscle size, they have been associated with other beneficial effects. For example, DHEA supplements have been shown to improve bone density in older women. Additionally, DHEA supplements may improve the function of the ovaries in women with impaired fertility.
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DHEA replacement therapy enhances muscle strength in elderly women and men
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands. It is converted into the major male and female sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. DHEA is also available as a supplement, with doses ranging from 10 to 500 mg, and is believed to improve bone density, decrease body fat, and enhance sexual function.
DHEA replacement therapy has been studied for its potential to enhance muscle strength in elderly women and men. While some research suggests that DHEA alone does not significantly increase muscle mass or strength, it may enhance the effects of weight training. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, DHEA therapy combined with weightlifting exercise training for four months resulted in improved muscle strength and thigh muscle volume compared to the placebo group. Similarly, a study by Morales et al. reported an increase in strength in 8 men with DHEA therapy.
However, it is important to note that the majority of research, including a large study by Percheron et al., indicates that DHEA supplements do not increase muscle mass or performance in young, middle-aged, and elderly adults. A study by Baker et al. in 2011 supports this, finding that DHEA alone did not significantly increase strength or thigh muscle volume over six months. Nonetheless, DHEA may improve strength and physical performance in frail, older adults or those with adrenal gland issues.
While DHEA replacement therapy may not directly lead to increased muscle mass, it has been found to enhance the effects of heavy resistance exercise in elderly individuals. Serum insulin-like growth factor concentration increased in response to DHEA replacement, leading to improved muscle mass and strength. This suggests that DHEA can be beneficial when combined with exercise for elderly individuals.
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DHEA improves bone density in older women
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland, gonads, and brain. Its levels decline with age, and low DHEA concentration has been associated with low bone density. This has led researchers to question whether restoring DHEA levels could improve or preserve bone health.
A two-year study divided men and women, ages 65 to 75 years old, into two groups. The first group received the DHEA supplement, vitamin D, and calcium for two years. The control group received a placebo, vitamin D, and calcium for the first year and then received the DHEA supplement the second year in place of the placebo. The effects of the treatment differed for men and women. After the first year, women in the test group experienced an approximate 2% increase in bone density, while women in the control group did not see an increase.
The researchers found that the observed benefit of DHEA therapy on lumbar spine BMD in older women and men combined across four studies was driven by the beneficial effects in women. DHEA therapy was associated with increases or attenuated decreases in lumbar spine, total hip, and trochanter BMD compared to placebo. In one of the four trials, the 12-month study was followed by 12 months of open-label treatment. Women prescribed DHEA experienced a mean increase in lumbar spine BMD of 1.7% at 12 months and a further increase of 1.8% at 24 months.
Another 2-year intervention suggested more modest incremental responses to DHEA therapy in lumbar spine BMD in older women (mean 0.6% at 1 year and 1% at 2 years). In the two studies that also incorporated calcium and vitamin D supplementation, researchers observed no additional increases in BMD. Combining DHEA therapy with resistance exercise that imparts mechanical strain to bone may promote greater increases in muscle mass and BMD rather than either intervention alone.
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DHEA may improve ovarian function and fertility in women
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Its levels decrease by approximately 80% between the ages of 25 and 75 years, coinciding with a decline in muscle mass and strength. While DHEA alone may not significantly increase muscle mass and strength, it has been found to enhance the effects of weight training and resistance exercise in elderly individuals.
DHEA supplementation has been suggested to improve ovarian function and fertility in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). DOR is a condition where a woman's ovaries have a reduced capacity to recruit and mature eggs, resulting in decreased fertility. DHEA supplementation has been proposed as a potential treatment option for women with DOR, as it may improve pregnancy chances.
Several studies have indicated that DHEA supplementation can enhance ovarian response to stimulation, leading to increased pregnancy rates during IVF treatment. The mechanism by which DHEA exerts its effects is not fully understood, but it is speculated that it may involve increasing serum concentrations of IGF-1, improving the response to gonadotropins, and reducing aneuploidy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that DHEA supplementation might be a novel way to maximize ovarian response in poor responders.
However, it is important to note that the research on DHEA supplementation for improving ovarian function and fertility is still evolving. While it is widely used in IVF centers worldwide, there is a lack of controlled studies and conclusive proof of its effectiveness. More comprehensive research is needed to fully understand the role of DHEA in improving ovarian function and fertility in women.
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DHEA activates the glucose metabolism-related signalling pathway in skeletal muscle
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Its levels decline sharply with age, by about 80% between the ages of 25 and 75.
DHEA has been shown to enhance the effects of weight training on muscle mass and strength in elderly individuals. However, the effects of DHEA on muscle mass and strength are still being studied, with some conflicting data published.
DHEA has been found to improve muscle strength and physical function in older women, and DHEA combined with exercise improves muscle strength and physical function in frail older women.
The activities of phosphofructokinase and hexokinase, the main glycolytic enzymes, were also enhanced by the addition of DHEA. These findings suggest that DHT is synthesized from DHEA in skeletal muscle and that DHT activates the glucose metabolism-related signalling pathway in skeletal muscle cells.
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Frequently asked questions
DHEA is a natural hormone that can be taken as a supplement to increase its levels in the body. It is converted into testosterone and oestrogen. Research has shown that DHEA enhances the effects of weight training on muscle mass and strength in elderly women and men. However, DHEA alone does not significantly increase muscle size or strength.
DHEA supplements have been shown to improve bone density in older women. They may also improve the function of the ovaries in women with impaired fertility.
Some researchers caution against the use of DHEA supplements as they have been associated with increased symptoms of depression in middle-aged women.
