DHEA, dietary supplement

OTHER DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR WEIGHT LOSS Dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA)... 

In some countries dietary supplements containing dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) have been advertised with claims that they may be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments. However, there is a lack of any proven benefit from DHEA supplementation. 

In addition, dietary supplements that have steroidal properties can be purchased legally common ones are dehydroeiandrosteroine (DHEA) and androstenedione. As of 2002, the effects of these dietary supplements are being researched for possible inclusion as an banned substance. 

Another issue is the dietary supplements commonly referred to as prohormones, which are touted as muscle builders and available legally at health food stores. In 1998 during the homerun race between baseball stars Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa these supplements were propelled into the media spotlight. Mark McGuire announced he was quitting his use of the most popular prohormone, androstenedione (or andro ) to help boost his performance. DHEA is another popular one. Now under scrutiny by the DEA, FDA, and Federal Trade Commission, these prohormones are intermediates in the synthesis of testosterone, and can be converted to testosterone and other hormones in the body. 

Coenzyme QIO is a powerful antioxidant naturally occurring in the mitochondria of myocardium, and it is an electron carrier in the mitochondrial synthesis of ATP. Patients with heart failure have lower myocardial levels of coenzyme QIO, but supplementation has been demonstrated to have variable benefits in randomized controlled trials. One meta-analysis on the use in congestive heart failure showed improvements in stroke volume, ejection fraction, cardiac output, cardiac index, and end diastolic volume index. " Another antioxidant associated with beneficial effects in cardiac patients is lycopene, a natural constituent of tomatoes. Lycopene is the major carotenoid found in human serum, and epidemiological studies have indicated an effect of dietary supplementation in reducing heart disease. Few dietary interventions have been reported one study showed a mild but significant hypocholesterolemic effect, and another showed a significant reduction in LDL oxidation. " Animal studies show an antiatherogenic effect of DHEA, and a review of the clinical trials and studies on DHEA in males with coronary heart disease reported a favorable or neutral effect. Plasma levels of DHEA are decreased in patients with chronic heart failure in proportion to its severity. ... 

Thompson, R.D. Carlson, M. Liquid chromatographic determination of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in dietary supplement products. J. AOAC Int. 2000, 83 (4), 847-857. 

Many herbal drugs, amino acids, and hormones are marketed as dietary supplements. They include areca, DHEA, ephedra, ginkgo biloba, kava, melatonin, SAMe, Salvia divinorum, St. John s wort, and valerian. 

Dietary supplementation with DHEA is best documented to have therapeutic value in the treatment of... 

The dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate conjugate (DHEA-S) are the most abundantly produced human adrenal steroids to be reduced with age. DHEA is widely available as a dietary supplement without a prescription. The vital problem is fast identification and analysis of its preparations. 

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