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As of now, female
bodybuilders appear to have more to gain from taking DHEA. The hormone
takes an androgen pathway and redirects fat deposition, storing less
body fat in the lower body in favor of the upper body, which is where
most women would prefer to carry it for aesthetic reason. However,
upper-body fat may pose a cardiovascular risk that lower-body fat
doesn't. Because insulin regulates DHEA levels only in men, they may
gain an added cardiovascular protection from taking the hormone.
Some animal studies
have shown possible dangers with massive doses of DHEA (1.5 grams or
more daily) for long periods. High concentrations of the hormone can
contribute to enlargement of the prostate gland and have shown
acceleration of tumor growth in mice.
The bottom line is
that DHEA seems to most benefit women, older individuals and all people
who are naturally deficient in the hormone. But beware of the quality of
the supplement you take. The DHEA available on the market is in
synthetic form and quality of each brand varies widely. In fact, some
versions by low-end manufacturers show only traces of DHEA in supposedly
high-miligram tablets.
The Food and Drug
Administration is looking into DHEA and its side effects. After all,
like melatonin, this is a hormone that should be approached with
caution.
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