DHEA is the biological daughter of pregnenolone, a fat-soluble steroid hormone created primarily in the adrenal glands and in lesser amounts in the ovaries, testes, brain, and peripheral tissues such as the skin. As with all hormones, DHEA is a derivative of cholesterol metabolism. DHEA is a precursor to male and female sex hormones: androgens and estrogens.
A large portion of DHEA is generated from adrenal synthesis, which is controlled by ACTH signaling (hypothalamus). Over time, it is severely reduced when cortisol is elevated or the patient receives corticosteroid treatment. Some say DHEA drops off with age, but stress may also be a factor.
Adrenals secrete DHEA into the bloodstream, where it is circulated as DHEA-Sulfate (reservoir for DHEA). Circulating DHEA can then be taken up by many tissues such as skin, bone, ovaries, or testes and converted to various estrogens and testosterone, which can be further converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estrogen. Under stress, healthy adrenals will respond by increasing the output of both cortisol and DHEA to higher-than-normal levels.
Nutrition-specific help to supporting DHEA levels may include HPA Axis support, adaptogen botanical, liver, hormonal, and electrolytic support; however, the supplement delivery method is key. Unique-directed nanosphere liposomes may facilitate specific access to the bloodstream without having to pass first through the liver to ensure that the liver does not modify the bio-hormones before reaching their target areas.*