Produced in the adrenal gland, DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone in the bloodstream. Proponents claim that it preserves youthfulness and prevents brain cell degeneration and that it has cognitive-enhancing effects as well. Sodhi warns agains using DHEA, as its long-term effects are not yet well understood. Natural medicine expert Andrew Weil, M.D., also suggests that research to substantiate enthusiasts’ claims is lacking. Khalsa prescribes DHEA for his patients and believes it has considerable merit, but advises that it should be used only under a doctor’s supervision; and he advises young people to avoid it. “Because young people already have optimal levels of DHEA,” he writes, indiscriminate use “poses a potentially dangerous risk.”
USE ONLY WITH DOCTOR’S RX
Hormone supplements may help boost your mood and energy levels, but their long-term effects are not yet well understood. And if you already have optimal levels, some hormones may be dangerous. Because it’s difficult to assess your own condition, we suggest that you take hormone supplements only under the supervision of a doctor.
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