Uses of Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone is a steroidal prohormone and dietary supplement, typically sold in capsule form. Proponents claim that it has several therapeutic uses, including treatment of Alzheimer's disease, menopause, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis and cancer. However, none of these claims have been empirically verified.

As a steroidal prehormone, use of pregnenolone may have many of the same negative side effects as use of anabolic steroids, such as increased risk of cancer, liver problems and heart problems.

Composition

• In its natural form, pregnenolone is a prehormone that the body synthesizes from cholesterol. Pregnenolone is then converted by the body into all of the hormones in the steroid family, including estrogen, testosterone and cortisone.

  Since pregnenolone is not naturally occurring in food, pregnenolone for dietary supplements is synthesized from compounds found in soybeans. It is typically dispensed in pill form with dosages ranging from 5 to 50 milligrams.

Purported Medical Uses

• Proponents of pregnenolone claim that it can be used to cure or soothe a variety of ailments. These ailments include osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, menopausal symptoms, fatigue and multiple sclerosis.

  The theoretical basis for why pregnenolone should be effective is simple. As the body ages, it produces less pregnenolone, so fewer steroidal hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are produced. Providing the body with more pregnenolone should, in theory, result in greater hormone production and relief from symptoms that are associated with diminished levels of steroidal hormones.

  Despite these claims, there is currently no scientific evidence that pregnenolone is an effective treatment for any medical issue.

Effects on Cognition

• Advocates claim that using pregnenolone as a dietary supplement enhances the user's attention and memory capacity. These claims are supported by research done by animal psychologists. According to a 2001 report in the journal of Brain Research Reviews, the memory ability of elderly rats is improved when they receive doses of pregnenolone. Furthermore, researchers have found a correlation between the level of pregnenolone present in a rat's hippocampus and its memory abilities.

  Research with human participants is less conclusive. While some studies have found that intake of pregnenolone results in moderate improvements in cognitive functioning, others have failed to find an effect. Research on this matter is ongoing.

Potential Health Risks

• There is little conclusive evidence regarding the health risks associated with use of pregnenolone. Because the body metabolizes pregnenolone into steroidal hormones, many of the purported risks are similar to those associated with anabolic steroids. These risks include aggressiveness, irritability, trouble sleeping, hair growth and acne. More serious risks include heart problems and liver problems.

  Clinical trials with animals and cancer cells also have suggested that pregnenolone may be associated with a greater incidence of hormone-related cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Interactions with Valium

• A 2004 study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology found a strong interaction between pregnenolone and drugs from the Valium or benzodiazepine family. If you use drugs from that family then taking pregnenolone may cause them to not work as well.