The supplement DHEA, widely marketed as an anti-aging supplement, has been found to be no better than placebo at slowing markers of aging. The study, published in the October 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, looked 87 men and 57 women over 60 who had low DHEA levels. After a two year period, people who took DHEA had no significant improvement in body fat, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life compared with those given a placebo.
The results of this study aren't at all surprising. Eight previous studies have found that DHEA supplementation doesn't improve well-being, mood, or cognitive function in healthy older people. Three studies have found that it doesn't help with muscle mass.
But DHEA has shown promise in the treatment of lupus, adrenal failure, and depression, so by no means should it be dismissed as a worthless supplement. It'll be interesting to see what future randomized controlled trials find when they look at the use of DHEA in people with these conditions.
The study also raises a contentious issue: although consumers might assume DHEA is a vitamin or nutrient because it is sold in health food stores, it is actually a hormone. The editorial accompanying the study called for DHEA to be regulated as a drug rather than as a dietary supplement. Supplement industry insiders, on the other hand, say that it would limit consumer access and that the study confirms the safety of DHEA, at least over a two-year period.
Related Articles: Source: Nair, K.S et al. DHEA in Elderly Women and DHEA or Testosterone in Elderly Men. The New England Journal of Medicine. (2006) 355: 1647-1659.
The results of this study aren't at all surprising. Eight previous studies have found that DHEA supplementation doesn't improve well-being, mood, or cognitive function in healthy older people. Three studies have found that it doesn't help with muscle mass.
But DHEA has shown promise in the treatment of lupus, adrenal failure, and depression, so by no means should it be dismissed as a worthless supplement. It'll be interesting to see what future randomized controlled trials find when they look at the use of DHEA in people with these conditions.
The study also raises a contentious issue: although consumers might assume DHEA is a vitamin or nutrient because it is sold in health food stores, it is actually a hormone. The editorial accompanying the study called for DHEA to be regulated as a drug rather than as a dietary supplement. Supplement industry insiders, on the other hand, say that it would limit consumer access and that the study confirms the safety of DHEA, at least over a two-year period.
Related Articles: Source: Nair, K.S et al. DHEA in Elderly Women and DHEA or Testosterone in Elderly Men. The New England Journal of Medicine. (2006) 355: 1647-1659.
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