Anti Aging Medicine: HGH and Steroids

Clayton offers this information on DHEA, a major contributor to the production of HGH.

1. What is it and where does it come from?

DHEA is an acronym for the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (now you know why people use the acronym.)

It is the most plentiful androgenic hormone produced by the adrenal glands and it is quite important to body builders and athletes because in men, around 50% of all testosterone is derived from it, while women derive over 75% of their estrogen from it and nearly 100% after menopause. Levels of DHEA are quite high at birth, drop during childhood, and peak during young adulthood. The levels continue to drop throughout life. This hormone is available synthetically as a nutritional supplement much in the same way as supplements for human growth hormone.

2. What does DHEA do?

DHEA is HOT, and you will see why. As a pre-cursor hormone, as it leads to the production of other hormones, including human growth hormone. When this compound is supplemented, it has been shown to have incredible effects. Although the methods by which it actually works are not fully understood, research shows it may be a sort of fountain of youth, slowing the aging process. It has also been shown to help people lose weight, burn fat and build muscle, and increase sex drive. Dietary supplements of DHEA can help maintain proper levels in the body and can aid a person in their overall well being. University of California, San Francisco researchers found that DHEA levels are lower in people who are depressed, and supplements of 30-90mg per day reportedly improved their state.

Is there enough that can be said about DHEA? Apparently not. It may also have positive effects on reducing cancer risk, controlling immunity, regulating blood sugar levels, reducing blood pressure, and decrease allergic states. Research also shows that in limited trials, may help to increase lean muscle mass, elevate function of the immune system, lower cholesterol, and have reversing effects on diabetes.

3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Because DHEA levels decrease with age, people above middle age can have incredible results as the studies above have shown. It can aid people that suffer from depression and lupus; but, importantly, body builders or athletes can have some of the greatest beneficial results.

4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

When used in the correct dosages, DHEA is great. But, with any kind or hormone or compound, when used incorrectly it can cause problems. The exact right dosage may vary with each individual, so consulting a physician is probably a good idea. But, a good recommendation to start with is between 5-25mg daily. Women and men over age 60 are commonly prescribed 50mg and 100mg, respectively. Obviously since younger people produce more DHEA naturally, they should take less. Pregnant or nursing women should not take it.

Many HGH physicians will choose to give you DHEA instead, so ask your provider about it!

Up til now, most of the articles here have been about human growth hormone, physicians who prescribe it, and what it does for the process of anti-aging. This article is going to focus on an interesting term that encompasses these concepts, that being the study of andropause, or the “male menopause.”

What is Andropause?

By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience a phenomenon similar to the female menopause, called andropause. Unlike women, men do not see a clear line, such as the stopage of menstruation to mark this change. Both, however, are distinguished by a drop in hormone levels. Estrogen in the female, testosterone in the male. The bodily changes happen over time in men and are manifested by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

What’s more, studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at risk for other health problems like heart disease and weak bones. Since all this happens at a time of life when many men begin to question their values, accomplishments and direction in life, it’s often difficult to realise that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions.

A gradual hormonal decline

Unlike menopause, which generally occurs in women during their mid-forties to mid-fifties, men’s “transition” may be much more gradual and expand over many decades. Attitude, psychological stress, alcohol, injuries or surgery, medications, obesity and infections can contribute to its onset.

Although with age, a decline in testosterone levelswill occur in virtually all men, there is no way of predicting who will experience andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. Neither is it predictable at what age symptoms will occur in a particular individual. Each man’s symptoms may be also different.

Is this a new phenomenon?

Yes and no. In fact, andropause was first described in medical literature in the 1940’s. So it’s not really new. But, our ability to diagnose it properly is. Sensitive tests for bio-available testosterone weren’t available until recently, so andropause has gone through a long period where it was under-diagnosed and under-treated. Now that men are living longer, there is heightened interest in andropause and this will help to advance our approach to this important life stage which was identified so long ago.

Increased diagnostic capability

Another reason why andropause has been under-diagnosed over the years is that symptoms can be vague and can vary a lot among individuals. Some men find it difficult to admit that there’s even a problem. And often physicians didn’t always think of low-testosterone levels as a possible culprit. So these factors often led doctors to conclude that symptoms were related to other medical conditions (i.e. depression) or were simply related to ageing and often encouraged their patients to accept that “they were no longer spring chickens”.

This situation is changing. New blood testing methods are available and there is an increased interest in mens’ ageing among medical researchers. So much attention is being focused on andropause that major efforts are underway to quickly share emerging scientific information with the international medical community.

Many physicians are now on-board with male anti-aging technology and prescribe hormone replacement therapy, such as human growth hormone, to combat the effects of andropause.