Neither DHEA nor low-dose testosterone patches show touted anti aging results in elderly subjects, disclosed researchers of one of the studies conducted to test such claims.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid that acts as a precursor to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Made up in the body, levels of DHEA are naturally very high among teens and young adults but the production begins to decline rapidly by late 20’s.
Medically, a 70-year-old has DHEA levels only about 20 percent of what he or she had in the early 20s. Thus, DHEA supplements are marketed as rejuvenating agents as they can be converted easily into active hormones by the body.
The new study conducted by the researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and the University of Padua in Italy, revealed that the steroids failed to show any favorable results and did not improve any of the advertised claims.
The two year long study examined medical records of 57 women and 87 men, all above 60 years of age.
Both men and women were divided into groups. Among the women, 27 were given DHEA tablets and 30 were given replica fake pills. While, in men 29 received DHEA, 27 received testosterone, and 31 received placebo.
Men received a standard DHEA tablet of 75 mg per day, while elderly women were given 50 mg tablet per day of DHEA.
Although DHEA and testosterone levels increased in the men and women (they don't have much testosterone in the body) who took the original pills, but there was no effect on physical performance, quality of life or the body's ability to lower levels of blood sugar.
Study’s lead author K. Sreekumaran Nair, M.D., Mayo Clinic endocrinologist said, "For almost two years we restored DHEA in older men and women to the high normal levels that are usually observed in young people, but found no beneficial effects on age-related changes in body composition and function.”
The participants' strength, their physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life remained same despite regular use.
Thus, the results of this study do not support the use of these agents as anti-aging supplements.
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