Dr. wants to add DHEA to regimen

[doublewhopper]

My TRT doc wants to at 25mg of DHEA miconized to my regimen of TRT and says it will help even out my blood profile of DHEA. She says my DHEA level of 165 was low and that I could benefit from it. I can't find anything on this. Does anyone have any experience with it?

 

[spikehd]

There are guys at the peak testosterone forum that use it, so their advice would be more helpful.

 

[Dr JIM]

Adding more fuel to a vehicles gas tank does not make the vehicle go any faster does it?
Well that's a pretty close analogy bc much like depressing the accelerator on a car will cause it to speed up, the "accelerator" needed for the conversion of DHEA into TT requires TWO enzymatic steps, and bc of the involved kinetics, their ability to increase DHEA/Testosterone turnover is quite limited.

The first step converts DHEA into "andro" while the second step converts "andro" into EITHER TT or ESTROGEN!

What's important to know is that the rate of conversion is genetically predetermined and relatively fixed. Thus it should NOT be surprising, (bc of the much lower DHEA levels in females) while DHEA supplementation increases TT levels in females, a similar effect is NOT NOTED IN MALES. (The latter is also true for andro supplementation)

Having said all that DHEA is a very safe supplement, but a word of caution. Since the conversion of DHEA into E-2 rather than TT is at least a theoretic possibility, periodic E-2 testing, especially if signs and symptoms consistent with hyperestrogenemia are observed is warranted IMO!

 

[Xlgx]

Adding more fuel to a vehicles gas tank does not make the vehicle go any faster does it?
Well that's a pretty close analogy bc much like depressing the accelerator on a car will cause it to speed up, the "accelerator" needed for the conversion of DHEA into TT requires TWO enzymatic steps, and bc of the involved kinetics, their ability to increase DHEA/Testosterone turnover is quite limited.

The first step converts DHEA into "andro" while the second step converts "andro" into EITHER TT or ESTROGEN!

What's important to know is that the rate of conversion is genetically predetermined and relatively fixed. Thus it should NOT be surprising, (bc of the much lower DHEA levels in females) while DHEA supplementation increases TT levels in females, a similar effect is NOT NOTED IN MALES. (The latter is also true for andro supplementation)

Having said all that DHEA is a very safe supplement, but a word of caution. Since the conversion of DHEA into E-2 rather than TT is at least a theoretic possibility, periodic E-2 testing, especially if signs and symptoms consistent with hyperestrogenemia are observed is warranted IMO!

If signs of higher estrogen creep up. Would supplementing with DIM help counter that from your experience?

 

[glycomann]

some HRT docs think that adding DHEA and or DHEAS can back fill pathways all the way back to pregnenolone, which could help all of steroid synthesis since prenenolone is a key intermediate in all steroid metabolism including mineralo-, gluco- and sex steroids. In practice I don't know. I think you would have to have periodic blood work to dial kin your cocktail.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Worthless Gimmick!

 

[Xlgx]

Worthless Gimmick!

Someone I respect in the bb community who happens to be a bb competitor and a doctor. Dr Scott Stevenson did a write up on DIM. However. I was also interested in hearing your opinion. Thx

 

[frankonya]

Xlgx
I can tell you I just did my own personal test on DIM and posted it to the forums a few weeks ago.. my E was in the 51.9 so I tried DIM to see if it would lower it any, if at all. I took it 100mg / day for approx 1 month.. test results taken at the same time (1 week after my trt shot). Results came back at 49..

 

[Xlgx]

Xlgx
I can tell you I just did my own personal test on DIM and posted it to the forums a few weeks ago.. my E was in the 51.9 so I tried DIM to see if it would lower it any, if at all. I took it 100mg / day for approx 1 month.. test results taken at the same time (1 week after my trt shot). Results came back at 49..

Thx that's good info. I already have some and was planning to run it at 200mg.

 

[Dr JIM]

Worthless Gimmick!

What how could you, we are talking about HRT docs many that specialize in "antiaging therapies"!

Ya think they could be doing it for the money.

 

[thrombus]

Back to the original question, is there a symptom that your doctor thinks the dhea will correct? Or is he chasing numbers?

 

[Dr JIM]

Back to the original question, is there a symptom that your doctor thinks the dhea will correct? Or is he chasing numbers?

Actually that's a good question, (and realize it's directed at the OP) but typically when I'm asked to field questions of this nature (will "supplements" help) the response is usually YES to both. That's to say it's commonplace for "HRT docs" to perform a battery of tests, looking for something, and come to the conclusion bc a particular result is "low" precursor supplementation may be useful.

The suggestion being even though a "level" maybe within the reference range it's abnormal and should be treated bc of the patients presenting signs and symptoms!

You know it's kinda like "bro scientists" who contend a TT level of 400-500ng/dl should be supplemented in an effort to reach a MORE NORMAL level of 800ng/dl in a 27 yo, for instance, yet rarely if ever considering another explanation such as Thyroid, Adrenals, DM, depressive disorders.

 

[InfoFront]

DHEA has many benefits regardless of it's utility as a prohormone, or for "backfilling" the preg pathway.

 

[Dr JIM]

DHEA has many benefits regardless of it's utility as a prohormone, or for "backfilling" the preg pathway.

DHEA is a very important precursor hormone so of course it's important but that's not the issue here.

The question is whether the SUPPLEMENTATION of DHEA is beneficial in MALES whos levels are WNL, and the answer is NOPE.

 

[blazinshotguns]

DHEA is a very important precursor hormone so of course it's important but that's not the issue here.

The question is whether the SUPPLEMENTATION of DHEA is beneficial in MALES whos levels are WNL, and the answer is NOPE.

WNL?

 

[Handle2]

within normal levels?

 

[Dr JIM]

Within Normal Limits

 

[Fear of the Dark]

I took 100mg in a.m. and a 100mg p.m. for 6 days.

Got puffy itchy nips and retained nearly 15 lbs of water in 3 days.

Be aware, dhea can turn into estro.

Fyi: I am gyno prone. Puberty, pro hormones, and a.s.

 

[Dr JIM]

Someone I respect in the bb community who happens to be a bb competitor and a doctor. Dr Scott Stevenson did a write up on DIM. However. I was also interested in hearing your opinion. Thx

Worthless Gimmick!

Res Ipsa Loquitur !

 

[hardasnails1973]

Normals are based on "average" population of 18-90 years old males . There are a lot of variables to consider.