What Are the Health Benefits of Pregnenolone?

Pregnenolone is a natural steroid hormone that is made from cholesterol and mainly produced in the adrenal glands. It is also produced in smaller amounts in the liver, brain, skin, gonads and retina. This hormone decreases with age and is produced significantly less by age 75. According to Vrp.com, this is a great concern to many physicians due to the positive and health-promoting benefits of this hormone.

Menopause

• Menopause is an natural but uncomfortable ordeal for many women who go through it. Some choose to go through hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to receive estrogen and progesterone, but these hormones are unnatural, synthetic and can have side effects. Pregnenonlone is a natural hormone that can also be used in HRT. According to Therealessentials.com, "The human body, the true 'master chemist,' transforms pregnenolone into the hormones the body is lacking. Whether its estrogen, progesterone or testosterone, using pregnenolone, the wisdom of the body makes what is needed most."

Pro-Memory Effects

• A study conducted by researcher R. Sih of St. Louis School of Medicine showed explicit memory improvement with pregnenolone. "Dr. Sih gave 500 mg pregnenolone or a placebo to men and women three hours before they were asked to perform standard memory tests. Pregnenolone resulted in improved memory in both men and women, improved spatial memory and perception in men, and improved verbal recall memory in women," according to Vrp.com.

Mood

• According to Vrp.com, pregnenolone adjusts two nerve receptor systems in the brain: NMDA receptors and GABA receptors. NMDA receptors are involved in learning, memory and awareness. Pregnenolone improves NMDA function. GABA receptors support relaxation, mental slowing, sedation and slumber. Pregnenolone inhibits GABA receptors, and seems to be a natural antidepressant. A study of 27 depressed patients found that their cerebrospinal fluid was noticeably lower in pregnenolone than in 10 non-depressed volunteers, according to Vrp.com.

Anti-Stress Benefits

• According to Vrp.com, some of the earliest studies on pregnenolone show its energizing, anti-stress benefits. During the 1940s, Drs. Pincus and Hoagland gave dosages of the hormone to factory workers, pilots and flight students. The workers showed increased production rates, less fatigue and a greater ability to cope with their jobs. The pilots and flight students made fewer errors on the flight simulation machine. The professional pilots also reported better performance in their real flying jobs.

Anti-Arthritis Effects

• According to Vrp.com, pregnenolone was used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis during the 1940s. In 1950, an article about pregnenolone reported on a study by E. Henderson and colleagues revealed that 300 mg of pregnenolone per day for 40 days resulted in a vast decrease in joint pain, tenderness and spasticity, with increased strength and range of motion. Another study with 64 patients, H. Freeman "used 500 mg of pregnenolone daily for periods of 2 to 30 weeks. Twenty-four patients showed striking improvements, and 20 showed minor improvements."