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<meta name="slug" content="three-hormones">
<meta name="title-en" content="Progesterone Pregnenolone &amp; DHEA - Three Youth-Associated Hormones">
<meta name="title-de" content="Progesteron Pregnenolon &amp; DHEA - Drei Jugend-assoziierte Hormone">
<meta name="author" content="Ray Peat, übersetzt von Daniel Ledda">
<meta name="tags" content="in-arbeit">

<h1 data-tunit>
    <span lang="en">Progesterone Pregnenolone &amp; DHEA - Three Youth-Associated Hormones</span>
    <span lang="de">Progesteron Pregnenolon &amp; DHEA - Drei Jugend-assoziierte Hormone</span>
</h1>

<p>
    <strong lang="en">PROGESTERONE INFORMATION</strong>
    <strong lang="de">INFORMATION ZU PROGESTERON</strong>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Raymond Peat, MA, PhD (Univ. of Oregon), Endocrine Physiologist, specializing in hormonal changes in stress and aging
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Raymond Peat, MA, PhD (Univ. of Oregon), Endokriner Physiologe, mit Schwerpunkt Stress- und Alterungs-bedingte hormonelle Veränderungen 
    </span>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Sixty years ago, progesterone was found to be the main hormone produced by the ovaries. Since it was
        necessary for fertility and for maintaining a healthy pregnancy, it was called the "pro-gestational
        hormone," and its name sometimes leads people to think that it isn't needed when you don't want to get
        pregnant. In fact, it is the most protective hormone the body produces, and the large amounts that are
        produced during pregnancy result from the developing baby's need for protection from the stressful
        environment. Normally, the brain contains a very high concentration of progesterone, reflecting its
        protective function for that most important organ. The thymus gland, the key organ of our immune system, is
        also profoundly dependent on progesterone.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Vor sechzig Jahren wurde entdeckt, dass Progesteron das wichtigste Hormon, das von den Eierstöcken hergestellt 
        wird. Da es erkannt wurde, dass es für die Fruchtbarkeit nötig ist, sowie für die Aufrechterhaltung einer
        gesunden Schwangerschaft, wurde es das "Pro-Gestations-Hormon" genannt, und sein Name lässt manchmal glauben,
        dass es nicht vonnöten ist, wenn man keine Schwangerschaft möchte. Tatsächlich ist es eines der schützendsten
        Hormone, die vom Körper hergestellt werden, und die großen Mengen, die während einer Schwangerschaft
        ausgeschüttet werden, sind auf das hohe Bedürfnis des Säuglings zurückzuführen, Schutz gegen seine stressvolle
        Umgebung zu haben. Normalerweise enthält das Gehirn eine sehr hohe Konzentration an Progesteron, was dessen
        schützende Wirkung auf das wichstige Organ widerspiegelt.  
    </span>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        In experiments, progesterone was found to be the basic hormone of adaptation and of resistance to stress.
        The adrenal glands use it to produce their anti-stress hormones, and when there is enough progesterone, they
        don't have to produce the potentially harmful cortisone. In a progesterone deficiency, we produce too much
        cortisone, and excessive cortisone causes osteoporosis, aging of the skin, damage to brain cells, and the
        accumulation of fat, especially on the back and abdomen.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        In Experimenten wurde gezeigt, dass Progesteron ein grundlegendes Adaptations- und Resistenzhormon gegen Stress 
        ist. Die Nebennieren nutzen es, um deren Antistress-Hormone herzustellen, und wenn genügend Progesteron
        vorhanden ist, müssen sie das potentiell schädliche Cortison produzieren. Bei einem Progesteronmangel
        produzieren wir zu viel Cortison, und ein Cortisonüberschuss verursacht Osteoporose, Alterung der Haut,
        Schädigung der Gehirnzellen, und die Ansammlung von Fett, vor allem am Rücken und am Bauch.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Experiments have shown that progesterone relieves anxiety, improves memory, protects brain cells, and even
        prevents epileptic seizures. It promotes respiration, and has been used to correct emphysema. In the
        circulatory system, it prevents bulging veins by increasing the tone of blood vessels, and improves the
        efficiency of the heart. It reverses many of the signs of aging in the skin, and promotes healthy bone
        growth. It can relieve many types of arthritis, and helps a variety of immunological problems.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Experimente zeigten, dass Progesteron Angstzustände lindert, das Gedächtnis fördert, die Gehirnzellen schützt,
        und sogar epileptische Anfälle verhindert. Es fördert die Atmung, und wurde als wirksames Mittel gegen Emphysem
        eingesetzt. Im Kreislaufsystem verhindert es hervortretende Adern, indem es den Tonus der Blutgefäße erhöht, und es
        verbessert die Leistungsfähigkeit des Herzens. Es kehrt viele der Anzeichen des Alterns in der Haut um und
        fördert gesundes Knochenwachstum. Es kann viele Arten von Arthrose entlasten und hilft bei einer Vielzahl von
        immunologischen Problemen.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        If progesterone is taken dissolved in vitamin E, it is absorbed very efficiently, and distributed quickly to
        all of the tissues. If a woman has ovaries, progesterone helps them to produce both progesterone and
        estrogen as needed, and also helps to restore normal functioning of the thyroid and other glands. If her
        ovaries have been removed, progesterone should be taken consistently to replace the lost supply. A
        progesterone deficiency has often been associated with increased susceptibility to cancer, and progesterone
        has been used to treat some types of cancer.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Wenn Progesteron in einer Lösung mit Vitamin E zugeführt wird, wird es sehr effizient aufgenommen, und wird
        schnell an alle Körpergewebe abgegeben. Sollte eine Frau Eierstöcke haben, hilft ihnen Progesteron dabei,
        sowohol Progesteron selber als auch Östrogen bei Bedarf zu produzieren, und hilft auch, eine normale
        Funktionsweise der Schilddrüse sowie der anderen Drüsen wiederherzustellen. Sollten ihre Eierstöcke entfernt
        worden sein, sollte Progesteron konsequent eingenommen werden um die fehlende Versorgung zu ersetzen. Ein
        Progesteronmangel wurde oft mit einer erhöhtem Krebsrisiko assoziiert und Progesteron wurde oft bei einer
        Krebsbehandlung eingesetzt.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        It is important to emphasize that progesterone is not just the hormone of pregnancy. To use it only "to
        protect the uterus" would be like telling a man he doesn't need testosterone if he doesn't plan to father
        children, except that progesterone is of far greater and more basic significance than testosterone. While
        men do naturally produce progesterone, and can sometimes benefit from using it, it is not a male hormone.
        Some people get that impression, because some physicians recommend combining estrogen with either
        testosterone or progesterone, to protect against some of estrogen's side effects, but progesterone is the
        body's natural complement to estrogen. Used alone, progesterone often makes it unnecessary to use estrogen
        for hot flashes or insomnia, or other symptoms of menopause.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Es ist wichtig zu betonen, dass Progesteron nicht einfach nur ein Schwangerschaftshormon ist. Es "nur zu
        verwenden, um die Gebärmutter zu schützen", wäre, als würde man einem Mann erzählen, er würde Testosteron nicht
        brauchen, wenn er keine Kinderpläne haben sollte, außer dass Progesteron eine viel größere, grundlegende
        Bedeutung als Testosteron hat. Obwohl Männer auch natürlicherweise Progesteron produzieren,
        und manchmal von dessen Gebrauch profitieren, ist es kein männliches Hormon. Einige Leute bekommen diesen
        Eindruck, weil einige Ärzte empfehlen, Östrogen mit entweder Testosteron oder Progesteron zu kombinieren, um vor
        einigen der Nebeneffekte von Östrogen zu schützen, aber Progesteron ist das natürliche Gegenstück des Körpers zu
        Östrogen. Der isolierte Einsatz von Progesteron sorgt oft dafür, dass der Gebrauch von Östrogen als Mittel gegen
        Hitzewallungen oder Schlaflosigkeit, oder andere Wechseljahrsbeschwerden, unnötig wird.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        When dissolved in vitamin E, progesterone begins entering the blood stream almost as soon as it contacts any
        membrane, such as the lips, tongue, gums, or palate, but when it is swallowed, it continues to be absorbed
        as part of the digestive process. When taken with food, its absorption occurs at the same rate as the
        digestion and absorption of the food.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        In einer Lösung mit Vitamin E beginnt Progesteron, in die Blutbahn zu gelangen, kurz nachdem es ein Membran
        berührt, zum Beispiel die Lippen, die Zunge, das Zahnfleisch, oder den Gaumen, aber wenn es verschluckt wird,
        wird es kontinuierlich im Laufe des Verdauungsprozesses aufgenommen. Bei gleichzeitiger Einnahme mit Essen
        findet die Aufnahme mit der gleichen Geschwindigkeit der Verdauung und Aufnahme des Essens statt.
    </span>
</p>
<hr>
<p>
    <strong lang="en">PREGNENOLONE</strong>
    <strong lang="de">PREGNENOLON</strong>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Pregnenolone, which is the raw material for producing many of the hormones of stress and adaptation, was
        known as early as 1934, but for several years it was considered to be an "inert" substance. A reason for
        this belief is that it was first tested on healthy young animals. Since these animals were already producing
        large amounts of pregnenolone (in the brain, adrenal glands, and gonads), additional pregnenolone had no
        effect.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Pregnenolon, das Rohmaterial zur Herstellung vieler der Hormone von Stress und Adaptation, ist seit frühestens
        1934 bekannt, aber es wurde einige Jahre als inaktive Substanz wahrgenommen. Ein Grund für diesen Glauben ist,
        dass die ersten Versuche mit Pregnenolon mit gesunden Jungtieren waren. Da diese Tiere bereits hohe Mengen von
        Pregnenolon produzierten (und zwar im Gehirn, in den Nebennieren und in den Gonaden), war die zusätzliche Gabe
        von Pregnenolon wirkungslos.
    </span>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        In the 1940s, pregnenolone was tested in people who were sick or under stress, and it was found to have a
        wide range of beneficial actions, but the drug industry never had much interest in it. Its very generality
        made it seem unlike a drug, and its natural occurrence made it impossible to patent. Thus, many synthetic
        variants, each with a more specialized action and some serious side effects, came to be patented and
        promoted for use in treating specific conditions. The drug companies created an atmosphere in which many
        people felt that each disease should have a drug, and each drug, a disease. The side effects of some of
        those synthetic hormones were so awful that many people came to fear them. For example, synthetic varieties
        of "cortisone" can destroy immunity, and can cause osteoporosis, diabetes, and rapid aging, with loss of
        pigment in the skin and hair, and extreme thinning of the skin.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        In den 1940er Jahren wurde Pregnenolon an Personen getestet, die entweder krank oder gestresst waren, und es
        wurde herausgefunden, dass es über eine breite Palette von positiven Wirkungen verfügt, aber die Pharmaindustrie
        hatte nie irgendein besonderes Interesse daran. Gerade seine Allgemeingültigkeit sorgte dafür, dass es kaum wie 
        eine Droge wirkte, und es war aufgrund seines natürlichen Vorkommens unmöglich, es zu patentieren.
        Dementsprechend wurden viele synthetische Varianten, jede mit seiner spezialisierten Wirkung und einigen
        schwerwiegenden Nebeneffekten, patentiert und als Gegenmittel spezifischer Krankheiten vermarktet. Die
        Pharmaunternehmen schufen eine Atmosphäre, in der viele Leute das Gefühl hatten, dass jede Krankheit eine Droge
        haben müsste, und jede Droge eine Krankheit. Die Nebeneffekte einiger dieser synthetischen Hormone waren so
        schrecklich, dass viele mit der Zeit Angst vor ihnen bekamen. Zum Beispiel können synthetische Varianten von
        "Cortison" die Immunität zerstören und Osteoporose, Diabetes, und schnelles Altern verursachen, mit dem Verlust
        von Haut- und Haarpigmentierung, und extremer Verdünnung der Haut.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Natural pregnenolone is present in young people of both sexes at a very high concentration, and one reason
        for the large amount produced in youth is that it is one of our basic defenses against the harmful side
        effects that an imbalance of even our natural hormones can produce. In excess, natural cortisone or estrogen
        can be dangerous, but when there is an abundance of pregnenolone, their side effects are prevented or
        minimized.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Natürliches Pregnenolon ist in jungen Menschen beider Geschlechter in hohen Konzentrationen vorhanden, und eine
        Grund für die hohe Menge, die während der Jugend produziert wird, ist, dass es uns einen grundlegenden Schutz
        gegen die schädlichen Nebeneffekten biete, die von einem Ungleichgewicht selbst unserer eigenen natürlichen Hormone
        hervorgerufen werden können. Ein Überschuss natürlichen Cortisons oder Östrogens kann schädlich sein, aber wenn
        ein Überfluss von Pregnenolon besteht, werden diese Nebeneffekte verhindert oder minimiert.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        In a healthy young person or animal, taking even a large dose of pregnenolone has no hormone-like or
        drug-like action at all. It is unique in this way. But if the animal or person is under stress, and
        producing more cortisone than usual, taking pregnenolone causes the cortisone to come down to the normal
        level. After the age of 40 or 45, it seems that everyone lives in a state of continuous "stress," just as a
        normal part of aging. This coincides with the body's decreased ability to produce an abundance of
        pregnenolone.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        In a healthy young person or animal, taking even a large dose of pregnenolone has no hormone-like or
        drug-like action at all. It is unique in this way. But if the animal or person is under stress, and
        producing more cortisone than usual, taking pregnenolone causes the cortisone to come down to the normal
        level. After the age of 40 or 45, it seems that everyone lives in a state of continuous "stress," just as a
        normal part of aging. This coincides with the body's decreased ability to produce an abundance of
        pregnenolone.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        When aging rats are given a supplement of pregnenolone, it immediately improves their memory and general
        performance. Human studies, as early as the 1940s, have also demonstrated improved performance of ordinary
        tasks. It is now known that pregnenolone is one of the major hormones in the brain. It is produced by
        certain brain cells, as well as being absorbed into the brain from the blood. It protects brain cells from
        injury caused by fatigue, and an adequate amount has a calming effect on the emotions, which is part of the
        reason that it protects us from the stress response that leads to an excessive production of cortisone.
        People feel a mood of resilience and an ability to confront challenges.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        When aging rats are given a supplement of pregnenolone, it immediately improves their memory and general
        performance. Human studies, as early as the 1940s, have also demonstrated improved performance of ordinary
        tasks. It is now known that pregnenolone is one of the major hormones in the brain. It is produced by
        certain brain cells, as well as being absorbed into the brain from the blood. It protects brain cells from
        injury caused by fatigue, and an adequate amount has a calming effect on the emotions, which is part of the
        reason that it protects us from the stress response that leads to an excessive production of cortisone.
        People feel a mood of resilience and an ability to confront challenges.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Many people have noticed that pregnenolone has a "face-lifting" action. This effect seems to be produced by
        improved circulation to the skin, and by an actual contraction of some muscle-like cells in the skin. A
        similar effect can improve joint mobility in arthritis, tissue elasticity in the lungs, and even eyesight.
        Many studies have shown it to be protective of "fibrous tissues" in general, and in this connection it was
        proven to prevent the tumors that can be caused by estrogen.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Many people have noticed that pregnenolone has a "face-lifting" action. This effect seems to be produced by
        improved circulation to the skin, and by an actual contraction of some muscle-like cells in the skin. A
        similar effect can improve joint mobility in arthritis, tissue elasticity in the lungs, and even eyesight.
        Many studies have shown it to be protective of "fibrous tissues" in general, and in this connection it was
        proven to prevent the tumors that can be caused by estrogen.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Pregnenolone is largely converted into two other "youth-associated" protective hormones, progesterone and
        DHEA. At the age of 30, both men and women produce roughly 30 to 50 mg. of pregnenolone daily. When taken
        orally, even in the powdered form, it is absorbed fairly well. One dose of approximately 300 mg (the size of
        an aspirin tablet) keeps acting for about a week, as absorption continues along the intestine, and as it is
        "recycled" in the body. Part of this long lasting effect is because it improves the body's ability to
        produce its own pregnenolone. It tends to improve function of the thyroid and other glands, and this
        "normalizing" effect on the other glands helps to account for its wide range of beneficial effects.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Pregnenolone is largely converted into two other "youth-associated" protective hormones, progesterone and
        DHEA. At the age of 30, both men and women produce roughly 30 to 50 mg. of pregnenolone daily. When taken
        orally, even in the powdered form, it is absorbed fairly well. One dose of approximately 300 mg (the size of
        an aspirin tablet) keeps acting for about a week, as absorption continues along the intestine, and as it is
        "recycled" in the body. Part of this long lasting effect is because it improves the body's ability to
        produce its own pregnenolone. It tends to improve function of the thyroid and other glands, and this
        "normalizing" effect on the other glands helps to account for its wide range of beneficial effects.
    </span>
</p>
<hr>
<p>
    <strong lang="en">DHEA: ANOTHER YOUTH-ASSOCIATED HORMONE</strong>
    <strong lang="de">DHEA: ANOTHER YOUTH-ASSOCIATED HORMONE</strong>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Raymond Peat, MA, PhD (Univ. of Oregon), Endocrine Physiologist
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Raymond Peat, MA, PhD (Univ. of Oregon), Endocrine Physiologist
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) has a technical-sounding name because it has never been identified with a
        single dominant function, in spite of its abundance in the body. Many researchers still think of it as a
        substance produced by the adrenal glands, but experiments show that animals without adrenals are able to
        produce it in normal amounts. Much of it is formed in the brain (from pregnenolone), but it is probably
        produced in other organs, including the skin. The brain contains a much higher concentration of DHEA than
        the blood does.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) has a technical-sounding name because it has never been identified with a
        single dominant function, in spite of its abundance in the body. Many researchers still think of it as a
        substance produced by the adrenal glands, but experiments show that animals without adrenals are able to
        produce it in normal amounts. Much of it is formed in the brain (from pregnenolone), but it is probably
        produced in other organs, including the skin. The brain contains a much higher concentration of DHEA than
        the blood does.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        In old age, we produce only about 5% as much as we do in youth. This is about the same decrease that occurs
        with progesterone and pregnenolone. The other hormones (for example, cortisone) do not decrease so much; as
        a result, our balance shifts continually during aging toward dominance by hormones such as cortisone, which
        use up more and more body substance, without rebuilding it. Protection against the toxic actions of these
        specialized hormones is a major function of DHEA and the other youth-associated hormones.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        In old age, we produce only about 5% as much as we do in youth. This is about the same decrease that occurs
        with progesterone and pregnenolone. The other hormones (for example, cortisone) do not decrease so much; as
        a result, our balance shifts continually during aging toward dominance by hormones such as cortisone, which
        use up more and more body substance, without rebuilding it. Protection against the toxic actions of these
        specialized hormones is a major function of DHEA and the other youth-associated hormones.
    </span>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        For example, starvation, aging, and stress cause the skin to become thin and fragile. An excess of
        cortisone--whether it is from medical treatment, or from stress, aging, or malnutrition--does the same
        thing. Material from the skin is dissolved to provide nutrition for the more essential organs. Other organs,
        such as the muscles and bones, dissolve more slowly, but just as destructively, under the continued
        influence of cortisone. DHEA blocks these destructive effects of cortisone, and actively restores the normal
        growth and repair processes to those organs, strengthening the skin and bones and other organs. Stimulation
        of bone-growth by DHEA has been demonstrated in vitro (in laboratory tests), and it has been used to relieve
        many symptoms caused by osteoporosis and arthritis, even when applied topically in an oily solution.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        For example, starvation, aging, and stress cause the skin to become thin and fragile. An excess of
        cortisone--whether it is from medical treatment, or from stress, aging, or malnutrition--does the same
        thing. Material from the skin is dissolved to provide nutrition for the more essential organs. Other organs,
        such as the muscles and bones, dissolve more slowly, but just as destructively, under the continued
        influence of cortisone. DHEA blocks these destructive effects of cortisone, and actively restores the normal
        growth and repair processes to those organs, strengthening the skin and bones and other organs. Stimulation
        of bone-growth by DHEA has been demonstrated in vitro (in laboratory tests), and it has been used to relieve
        many symptoms caused by osteoporosis and arthritis, even when applied topically in an oily solution.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Estrogen is known to produce a great variety of immunological defects, and DHEA, apparently by its balancing
        and restorative actions, is able to correct some of those immunological defects, including some "autoimmune"
        diseases.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Estrogen is known to produce a great variety of immunological defects, and DHEA, apparently by its balancing
        and restorative actions, is able to correct some of those immunological defects, including some "autoimmune"
        diseases.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        It is established that DHEA protects against cancer, but it isn't yet understood how it does this. It
        appears to protect against the toxic cancer-producing effects of excess estrogen, but its anti-cancer
        properties probably involve many other functions.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        It is established that DHEA protects against cancer, but it isn't yet understood how it does this. It
        appears to protect against the toxic cancer-producing effects of excess estrogen, but its anti-cancer
        properties probably involve many other functions.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Diabetes can be produced experimentally by certain poisons which kill the insulin-producing cells in the
        pancreas. Rabbits were experimentally made diabetic, and when treated with DHEA their diabetes was cured. It
        was found that the insulin-producing cells had regenerated. Many people with diabetes have used brewer's
        yeast and DHEA to improve their sugar metabolism. In diabetes, very little sugar enters the cells, so
        fatigue is a problem. DHEA stimulates cells to absorb sugar and to burn it, so it increases our general
        energy level and helps to prevent obesity.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Diabetes can be produced experimentally by certain poisons which kill the insulin-producing cells in the
        pancreas. Rabbits were experimentally made diabetic, and when treated with DHEA their diabetes was cured. It
        was found that the insulin-producing cells had regenerated. Many people with diabetes have used brewer's
        yeast and DHEA to improve their sugar metabolism. In diabetes, very little sugar enters the cells, so
        fatigue is a problem. DHEA stimulates cells to absorb sugar and to burn it, so it increases our general
        energy level and helps to prevent obesity.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        Young people produce about 12 to 15 milligrams of DHEA per day, and that amount decreases by about 2 mg. per
        day for every decade after the age of 30. This is one of the reasons that young people eat more without
        getting fat, and tolerate cold weather better: DHEA, like the thyroid hormone, increases our heat production
        and ability to burn calories. At the age of 50, about 4 mg. of DHEA per day will usually restore the level
        of DHEA in the blood to a youthful level. It is important to avoid taking more than needed, since some
        people (especially if they are deficient in progesterone, pregnenolone, or thyroid) can turn the excess into
        estrogen or testosterone, and large amounts of those sex hormones can disturb the function of the thymus
        gland and the liver.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        Young people produce about 12 to 15 milligrams of DHEA per day, and that amount decreases by about 2 mg. per
        day for every decade after the age of 30. This is one of the reasons that young people eat more without
        getting fat, and tolerate cold weather better: DHEA, like the thyroid hormone, increases our heat production
        and ability to burn calories. At the age of 50, about 4 mg. of DHEA per day will usually restore the level
        of DHEA in the blood to a youthful level. It is important to avoid taking more than needed, since some
        people (especially if they are deficient in progesterone, pregnenolone, or thyroid) can turn the excess into
        estrogen or testosterone, and large amounts of those sex hormones can disturb the function of the thymus
        gland and the liver.
    </span>
</p>

<p>
    <span lang="en">
        People who have taken an excess of DHEA have been found to have abnormally high estrogen levels, and this
        can cause the liver to enlarge, and the thymus to shrink.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        People who have taken an excess of DHEA have been found to have abnormally high estrogen levels, and this
        can cause the liver to enlarge, and the thymus to shrink.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
    <span lang="en">
        One study has found that the only hormone abnormality in a groupt of Alzheimers patients' brains was an
        excess of DHEA. In cell culture, DHEA can cause changes in glial cells resembling those seen in the aging
        brain. These observations suggest that DHEA should be used with caution. Supplements of pregnenolone and
        thyroid seem to be the safest way to optimize DHEA production.
    </span>
    <span lang="de">
        One study has found that the only hormone abnormality in a groupt of Alzheimers patients' brains was an
        excess of DHEA. In cell culture, DHEA can cause changes in glial cells resembling those seen in the aging
        brain. These observations suggest that DHEA should be used with caution. Supplements of pregnenolone and
        thyroid seem to be the safest way to optimize DHEA production.
    </span>
</p>
<p>
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        © Ray Peat 2006. All Rights Reserved. www.RayPeat.com
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