Low Pregnenolone Level
  Pregnenolone Low
 Signs and symptoms
 Conditions that suggest it
 Contributing risk factors
 Treatment
 



Low Pregnenolone Level: Overview
Pregnenolone is a hormone with its own actions, as well as being a mother hormone for sex and adrenal hormones. It is available over the counter although caution is advised with regard to hormone use. This hormone's level can be determined in the laboratory but it is an uncommon test. Many holistic doctors will test for it and other hormones with a urine sample. Estrogen-deficient women often are low in pregnenolone, an essential hormone (derived from cholesterol) which is a precursor to progesterone. Pregnenolone may be a significant contributing factor in depression. Pregnenolone is abundant in the brain where it improves the transmission of nerve impulses and facilitates communication between brain cells. In a sense, people who are depressed may have poor communication, neuronally speaking, between the different parts of their brain because they are deficient in pregnenolone. This hormone appears to have a great calming effect because it activates receptor sites in brain cells for GABA (itself a calming agent), enabling more GABA to be absorbed by the cells.


Signs, symptoms & indicators of Low Pregnenolone Level:
Symptoms - MetabolicLow energy/stamina is often a sign or symptom of Low Pregnenolone Level  Low energy/stamina

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional
Moodiness may be a sign or symptom of Low Pregnenolone Level  Moodiness

Symptoms - Mind - General
Short-term memory failure is often a sign or symptom of Low Pregnenolone Level  Short-term memory failure

Conditions that suggest Low Pregnenolone Level:
Lab ValuesLow Total Cholesterol often suggests Low Pregnenolone Level  Low Total Cholesterol

Mental
Depression often suggests Low Pregnenolone Level  Depression
A study found that depressed patients generally had low levels of pregnenolone. [Biological Psychiatry, 35(10): pp.775-80, 1994]

Risk factors for Low Pregnenolone Level:
Supplements and Medications(Past) cholesterol-lowering drug use may increase risk of Low Pregnenolone Level  (Past) cholesterol-lowering drug use

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional
A high-stress lifestyle often increases risk of Low Pregnenolone Level  An average-stress/a high-stress lifestyle

Symptoms - Skeletal
(Severe) spinal cord injury may increase risk of Low Pregnenolone Level  (Severe) spinal cord injury

Recommendations and treatments for Low Pregnenolone Level:
HormonePregnenolone is highly recommended for Low Pregnenolone Level  Pregnenolone

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs
Test for Hormones is highly recommended for Low Pregnenolone Level  Test for Hormones


KEY
Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk ofWeak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of
Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk ofStrong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
Very useful: is highly recommended forVery useful: is highly recommended for




Last updated: Jan 31, 2012