Re: found an old post on dhea and depression

[Guest guest]

Very, very interesting, Tina! Thanks for reposting...this is new to me. Dhea is

sounding pretty good. Many good things were said about DHEA. What's the down

side? Anyone heard of any side affects or problems with it? thanks, sheila

tina83862 <tina83862@...> wrote:Spotlight on Depression: dhea Provides

Alternative Treatment Option

by Tamara Schuit, ImmuneSupport Staff

ImmuneSupport.com

06-14-2000

Major University studies have shown that dhea is a natural

alternative treatment effective in treating depression.

University of California San Diego In a study conducted by S. S. C.

Yen and associates at the University of California, San Diego,

researchers found that 50 mg a day of dhea administered for 6-months

restored levels of dhea in both men and women. This dhea replacement

was associated with an increase in perceived physical and

psychological well-being for both men (67%) and women (84%).

Another study at UCSD was conducted in which researchers considered

the association between levels of dhea and depression. Nine different

hormones (including dhea) were measured in 699 older women. Out of

all of these hormones, only low levels of dhea were linked with

depression.

Cambridge University In studies conducted at Cambridge University in

England, researchers discovered that children with major depression

have abnormally low levels of dhea accompanied by abnormally high

levels of cortisol.

University of California San Francisco At the University of

California, San Francisco, dhea was given to people with depression

to determine its antidepressant effects. After 6 weeks, psychological

tests indicated that about half the participants responded to dhea

therapy, with an overall enhancement of mood scores by over 30%.

In another study conducted by the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF,

dhea was administered to six middle-aged and elderly patients with

major depression. In patients who received extended treatment with

dhea for six months, depression ratings improved 48-72%.

National Institute of Mental Health In a study conducted by

researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health, middle-aged

people with dysthymia (a chronic, low-grade depression) were given 90

mg of dhea a day for 3 weeks. This study concluded that this amount

significantly alleviated the participants' depression.

dhea – Help is on the way

The good news is that help is on the way. A natural alternative to

anti-depressants – dhea – can help alleviate the emotional numbness,

lack of energy and motivation that are all too familiar to a person

suffering from depression.

Doctors have long known the positive effects achieved by taking dhea –

improved memory, more energy, and higher metabolism just to name a

few. But recently dhea has moved to the headlines as an effective,

natural treatment for depression.

dhea is the only hormone besides cortisol that has consistently been

linked to depression. But unlike cortisol, where high levels increase

depression – high levels of dhea actually alleviate depression! dhea

was studied as far back as the 1950s as an antidepressant. Back then,

researchers reported that it gave people energy and confidence, and

made them less depressed. While it seemed to work, no one followed up

on the studies.

New studies confirm effectiveness

dhea emerged on the scene again in the 1980s when interest in anti-

aging hormones geared up. It was noted then that antidepressant

activity was part of dhea's overall anti-aging benefits. Then, in

1996, a report suggested that dhea's antidepressant effects might be

direct, and not just a result of its anti-aging benefits in older

people.

In the late 1990s, this phenomenon was confirmed in a study. Nine

different hormones had been measured during the study. Included in

the measurements were such things as testosterone and sex-hormone-

binding globulin. When the results were in, of all the hormones, only

low levels of dhea were linked to depression. In fact, women with low

levels of dhea were far more likely to be depressed with normal

levels. In other words, the lower your level of dhea, the worse your

mood or depression. With this in mind, a group at the University of

San Diego, California decided to give dhea to people with depression

to see if it would help. In the first double-blind, placebo-

controlled study on dhea's potential as an antidepressant, 11

patients with major depression were given up to 90 mg/day of dhea for

6 weeks, and 11 were given a placebo.

One week before the study actually began, all patients were given a

placebo to weed out those who would respond to a sugar pill. People

getting the dhea received 30 mg a day for the first 2 weeks, 60 mg

the second 2 weeks, and 90 mg the last 2 weeks. The idea of the

graduated dose was to bring patients up to the dhea levels they had

when they were 20 to 30 years old (dhea declines with age). Although

the amount of dhea wasn't adjusted individually, as it could have

been, the graduated dose approximates what it takes to reach

a " youthful " level in most people, according to Dr. Owen Wolkowitz,

principle investigator on the study.

After 6 weeks, tests indicated that about half of the participants

responded to dhea therapy, with an overall enhancement of mood scores

by 30.5%.

How does it work?

Researchers have different theories about how dhea alleviates

depression. dhea and can cross the blood-brain barrier and interact

with the brain directly. dhea can affect serotonin, GABA receptors,

and other brain factors. It might modulate the serotonin-signaling

pathway. In addition, dhea is the precursor for estrogen and

testosterone, which also enhance mood.

dhea also has antistress effects that may be part of its

antidepressant action. Research shows that cortisol, the stress

hormone, is elevated in major depression. dhea counteracts cortisol.

Calmness is also associated with higher levels of dhea.

Other benefits of dhea:

* Boosted immune system — dhea increases the production Interleukin-2

and specialized white blood cells, both of which strengthen immune

defenses. * Cardiovascular benefits — dhea reduces your risk of heart

disease, heart attack and stroke. * Higher metabolism — dhea

activates enzymes in the liver that increase the rate of thermogensis

(the process by which fat is burned). * Prevention of diabetes * More

energy

SOURCES:

[Guest guest]

Shiela,

You asked:

> ... Many good things were said about DHEA. What's the down side?

> Anyone heard of any side affects or problems with it? ...

>

Results of testing have been as conflicting for the hazards as for the

benefits. Reactions seem to be very individualized. Some of the reported

adverse effects: increased testosterone level (women), increased

estrogen level (men), altered hormone levels for both sexes, liver

dysfunction, increased prostate, breast, and testicular cancer risks and

other steroid-like effects (facial hair, acne, personality changes).

Caveat emptor.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

DHEA is a natural adrenal hormone (although big pharma is working on a

synthetic patented version) that does wondrous things. If you are having

problems with regular DHEA cycling into other hormones, then try 7-keto

DHEA.

Gracia

> Shiela,

>

> You asked:

>

> > ... Many good things were said about DHEA. What's the down side?

> > Anyone heard of any side affects or problems with it? ...

> >

>

> Results of testing have been as conflicting for the hazards as for the

> benefits. Reactions seem to be very individualized. Some of the reported

> adverse effects: increased testosterone level (women), increased

> estrogen level (men), altered hormone levels for both sexes, liver

> dysfunction, increased prostate, breast, and testicular cancer risks and

> other steroid-like effects (facial hair, acne, personality changes).

>

> Caveat emptor.

>

> Chuck

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Always a downside if you overtake any medication--with dhea as soon

as your skin gets oily back off of it--the highest recommended dose

is .25mg per day (I would take less based on your weight). And I

would rather you get tested first just to be on the safe side--one of

the girls here was high in dhea---so you should double check if you

are going to use it everyday.

If you read www.ithyroid.com very carefully states that you

must be balanced with any supplement/hormone--ect.---and he explains

it.

the key is when to slow down on these medications---To be on the safe

side I take every other day for the majority of my supplements. This

way my liver is not overwhelmed and I alternate them.

Sometimes I take once a week or twice too---especially with B's I

don't need that much of that one. Iron--once or twice a week is more

than enough. Vitamin C--one gram a day is enough--unless I am sick--

then I titrate it upward. I usually take one multiple, sometimes I

forget. But I eat too well!!! HA!!!

You have to be the one to judge what works for you--read, read, read--

the bottles of these pills and then look it up on line as well!!!!!

we have to be our own doctors!!! and listen to our bodies!!!! we

ususally know what works for us!!!!