|  | Alternative Medicine | Alternative Remedies

Forms of DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone -- better known as DHEA -- is a steroid hormone that has drawn much interest in recent years. Proponents of DHEA believe it can slow or reverse the effects of aging, lift the immune system and improve a person's physical condition and mental state. DHEA is available in several forms, natural and synthetic.

  1. Natural in the Body

    • DHEA is a naturally occurring hormone found in the human body, where it originates in the adrenal glands. When functioning properly, the body produces 15mg to 30mg DHEA daily, with a small percentage used by the body. As people age, levels of DHEA produced can lessen, leading people to seek ways to supplement the body's production.

    Synthesized sublingual

    • One commonly synthesized DHEA form is known as sublingual, which comes in tablet form in doses that usually are 5mg. Sublingual tablets offer the full spectrum of DHEA's benefits.

    7-keto DHEA

    • Another synthetic from of DHA is known as 7-keto, taken in doses of 25mg to 50mg daily. 7-keto DHEA is targeted toward improving the body's immune system. It's more often recommended for women, particularly those going into menopause. Another reason for women to use 7-keto DHEA is that it doesn't produce the testosterone of sublingual DHEA, which can produce unwanted side effects such as facial hair and acne.

    Food Sources

    • The best source of DHEA in a diet is by eating beef, pork, chicken an other animal meats. Some people claim that wild yams are a good source of DHEA, but there's no scientific evidence that they provide any beneficial levels.

Alternative Remedies - Related Articles