To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of abnormal DHEA levels we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow abnormal DHEA levels to develop?"
Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind abnormal DHEA levels consists of three steps:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Premature Aging | 95% | Confirm |
Hypoglycemia | 26% | Unlikely |
Stress | 2% | Ruled out |
Hypopituitarism | 1% | Ruled out |
If your DHEA level has been measured, what was the result?
Possible responses:
→ Don't know→ Definitely low → Reduced → Normal → Elevated |
Sometimes known as the "youth hormone", DHEA protects the body from premature aging. A lower-than-normal level of DHEA can also be a sign of premature aging, as DHEA production decreases with age.
Insulin levels may play a significant role in determining how much DHEA is metabolized. Studies have discovered that low levels of DHEA may be related to an excess of insulin. What this suggests is that anyone suffering from hypoglycemia or excess insulin may be prone to converting nutrients to fat due to depressed DHEA levels.
Stress accelerates the loss of DHEA.