DHEA As TRT Protocol

stat1951

New Member
First, right off the bat, I would like to make it clear that this is not my position. I personally believe that optimal levels of DHEA are important for their own sake, but do not believe that DHEA supplementation is feasible for a significant testosterone replacement therapy.

That said, this topic keeps coming up in certain quarters, with a lot of "support" for that position coming by way of a "Life Extension Foundation" article that keeps getting quoted:

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2002/aug2002_report_test_02.html

The specific section that is refered to is the following:

QUOTE
In some cases DHEA replacement seems sufficient to produce the benefits suggesting increased levels of free testosterone, even though total serum testosterone is unaffected (in women, total serum testosterone does rise after DHEA replacement). Fortunately, a well-controlled study published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology and Metabolism did in fact find a significant rise in free testosterone in men aged 60 to 84 years, after three months on 100 mg of DHEA. There was no rise in total testosterone or in PSA. Even at lower doses of DHEA, one would expect a rise in tissue levels of testosterone, undetectable in the serum but nevertheless of considerable
END QUOTE

Those comments apparently are made based upon a "well-controlled study published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology and Metabolism" that is as follows:

Flynn MA. DHEA replacement in aging humans. J Clin Exper Endocrinol Metabolism 1999; 84:1527-33.

I note that the article does not specifically quote or publish the actual study nor even provide a link to said study. Nor does the article address what happened with levels of estradiol (E2) or DHT, etc., etc. with prolonged supplementation of DHEA at the levels used in the study.

Is anyone familiar with that study? Can someone provide the actual quoted abstract of that study?

For example as is done at:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10372727&dopt=Abstract

That info - and any other info available that would refute the concept of DHEA (even high dose DHEA) being a viable form of TRT treatment - would be greatly appreciated!

Larry
 
I would note that, even if it does occur, an increase in Free T does not impress. So what if we were to double the Free T level? Now we have, for instance, 2% Free instead of 1%. What we need to see is a substantial increase in Bioavailable T.
 
SWALE,

Absolutely.

The very EXACT point that I was trying to make with the party that I was "discussing" this matter. I was addressing the point that Free T exists basically as a percentage of Total T. It could be a very, very poor percentage (such as a 0.2) or it could be a very good percentage (such as a 3 - my last test mine was a 3.2)... but that was pretty immaterial if the Total T was so low that it didn't matter. Even if one had a great level of a percentage of 3, if the Total T was only 200 or 250, then what did it matter?

Also, the link provided by "cpeil2" was excellent....

Some quotes from the actual study abstract:

QUOTE:
In this 9-month study, healthy older men (n = 39) received replacement dose DHEA. Lean body mass, blood hematology, chemistry and endocrine values, as well as urological and psychological data were measured. Data showed some mild and temporary, but significant, changes during oral use of 100 mg DHEA for 3 months compared with placebo taken for 3 months. Body composition did not change during the 6 months of treatment... some small but, significant, variations in blood values (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, alanine transaminase, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and potassium) were found... Well publicized effects of the drug reported by others, such as a sense of well-being or improved sexual function, were not found in this study".
END QUOTE

Strange but I found no specific mention of an increase of even Free T noted in this abstract (maybe it is listed somewhere in the full study???)....

Once again I find myself "wondering" about an "informational paper' produced by the Life Extension Foundation people (who had quoted this study in a paper in regard DHEA as a possible TRT protocol).....

Larry



SWALE said:
I would note that, even if it does occur, an increase in Free T does not impress. So what if we were to double the Free T level? Now we have, for instance, 2% Free instead of 1%. What we need to see is a substantial increase in Bioavailable T.
 
stat1951 said:
Once again I find myself "wondering" about an "informational paper' produced by the Life Extension Foundation people (who had quoted this study in a paper in regard DHEA as a possible TRT protocol).....

Larry

I think a lot of their literature is designed more to sell supplements than to inform.
 
cpeil2 said:
I think a lot of their literature is designed more to sell supplements than to inform.


Like with everything else, it always pays to look for any hidden agendas. I will readily admit that LEF does put out some excellent information - especially when it's backed by actual research of clinical trials, legitimate studies, etc.... and then there's other times when......

Well, like you said.

Larry
 
i am a fan of dhea replacement therapy but NOT for trt purposes. I believe that i have read every study available on medline on dhea and i have seen nothing definitive that would lead me to believe that dhea in any way can replace trt.

jb
 
jboldman said:
i am a fan of dhea replacement therapy but NOT for trt purposes. I believe that i have read every study available on medline on dhea and i have seen nothing definitive that would lead me to believe that dhea in any way can replace trt.

jb


Pretty much my same position. DHEA - just like any other hormone - is important on its own standings and has an optimal range for overall health purposes... and like you, I also have not seen anything definitive that would lead one to believe it would be an appropriate TRT protocol....

Larry
 
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