A couple of short-term (3 week duration) studies have shown that DHEA supplementation increases insulin
sensitivity at a daily dosage of 25-50 mg. There are no long-term human studies to indicate whether DHEA is
appropriate for diabetics at this time.21,22
Dosage Ranges
1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: 100-200 mg per day for three months, maintenance dose unknown
2. Dementia: men – 25-50 mg per day women – 15-25 mg per day
3. Erectile Dysfunction: 50 mg per day
4. Diabetes: 25-50 mg per day, but requires substantiation
Adverse Side Effects and Toxicity
At doses of 50-200 mg patients often experience acne, increased facial hair and increased perspiration. Less
frequently reported are breast tenderness, weight gain, mood alteration, headache, oily skin and menstrual
irregularity.23
Contraindications
Any history or family history of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer (extreme caution should be used in these cases)14
precludes indiscriminate use of DHEA supplementation. Males taking DHEA should have their PSA (prostate-specific
antigen) levels monitored to screen for prostate cancer development. Females taking DHEA should be monitored for
breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer development.26-33
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
Methyltestosterone
DHEA supplementation has been shown to increase blood levels of testosterone, as does methyltestosterone. Thus,
the addition of DHEA supplementation to methytestosterone treatment may result in an excessive increase of blood
testosterone and increase risk of related side effects.24,25
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Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
1. Marks M, Marks A, Smith C. Basic medical biochemistry: A clinical approach. Balitmore, MD: Williams & Wilkins;1996. p. 675-88.
2. Araghiniknam M, Chung S, Nelson-White T, Eskelson C, Watson RR. Antioxidant activity of dioscorea and dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA) in older humans. Life Sce 1996;59:147-57.
3. Migeon C, et al. DHEA and androsterone levels in human placenta. Effect of age and sex: day-to-day and diurnal variations. J Clin End
Comment [c1]: Could not find other authors.
Met 1957;17:1051-62.
4. Ravaglia G, et al. The relationship of DHEAS to endocrin-metabolic parameters and functional status in the oldest old. J Clin Endocrinol
Comment [c2]: Could not find other authors
Metab 1996;81:1173-7.
5. Diamond P, Cusan L, Gomez J-L, Belanger A, Fabrie F. Metabolic effects of 12-month percutaneous DHEA replacement therapy in post
menopausal women. J Emdocrinol 1996;150(Suppl):43S-50S.
6. Villareal DT, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Replacement of DHEA in aging men and women. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995;774:128-42.
7. McNeil C. Potential drug DHEA hits snags on way to clinic. J Natl Cancer Inst 1997;89:681-3.
8. Jones JA, Nguyen A, Straub M, Leidich R, Veech RL, Wolf S. Use of DHEA in a patient with advanced prostate cancer; a case report
and review. Urology 1997;50:784-8.
9. Zumoff B, Levin J, Rosenfeld RS, Marksham M, Strain GW, Fukushima DK. Abnormal 24-hr mean plasma concentration of DHEA and
DHEAS in women with primary operable breast cancer. Cancer Res 1981;41:3360-3.
10. Dorgan JF, Longcope C, Stephenson HE Jr, Falk RT, Miller R, Franz C, et al. Relationship of prediagnostic serum estrogen and
androgen levels to breast cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkeres Prev 1996;5:533-9.
11. Gordon GB, Bush TL, Helzlsouer KJ, et al. Relationship of serum levels of DHEA and DHEAS to the risk of developing postmenopausal
breast cancer. Cancer Res 1990;50:3859-62.
12. Morales AJ, et al. The effect of six months treatment with a 100mg daily dose of DHEA on circulating sex steroids, body composition and
Comment [c3]: Could not find other authors
muscle strength in age-advanced men and women. Clin Endocrinol (oxf) 1998;49:421-32.
13. Skolnick AA. Scientific verdict still out on DHEA. JAMA 1996;276:1365-7.
14. Balch J. The super antioxidants. New York, NY: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 1998. p. 143-9.
15. Aksoy IA, et al. Human lives DHEA – sulfotransferase: Nature and extent of individual variation. Clin Parmacol Therapeutics
Comment [c4]: Could not find other authors
1993;54:498-506.
16. van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGuire JL. An open study of DHEA in system lupus erythermatosus. Arthritis Rheum
1994;37;9:1305-10.
17. van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGuire JL. DHEA in systemic lupus erythematosus: Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:1826-31.
18. Yen SS, Morales AJ, Khorram O. Replacement of DHEA in aging men and women: Potential remedial effects. Ann NY Acad Sci
1995;774:128-42.
19. Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SSC. Effect of replacement dose of DHEA in men and women of advancing age. J Clin
Endocrinol Metab 1994;78,6:1360-7.
20. Reiter WJ, Pycha A, Schatzl G, et al. DHEA in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: a prospective double-blind reandomised, placebo-
controlled study. Urology 1999;53:590-5.
21. Bates CW, Bates CW, Egerman RS, Umstot ES, Buster JE, Casson PR. DHEA attenuates study-induced declines in insulin sensitivity in
postmenopausal women. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995;291-3.
22. Casson PR, Faquin LC, Stentz FB, Straughn AB, Anderson RN, Abraham GF, Buster JE. Replacement of DHEA enhancer T-lymphocyte
insulin binding in postmenopausal women. Fertil Steril 1995;63:1027-31.
23. Regelson W, et al. DHEA-a pleiotropic steroid: How can one steroid do so much? In: Klatz RM: Advances in anti-aging medicine.
Comment [c5]: Could not find other authors
Larchment, NY: Mary Ann Liebert Publ; 1996. Vol 1.
24. Wolf OT, Neumann O, Hellhammer DH, Geiben AC, Strasburger CJ, Dressendorfer RA, et al. Effects of a two-week physiological DHEA
substitution on cognitive performance and well-being in healthy elderly women and men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:2263-7.
25. Labrie F, Bélanger A, Simard J, Luu-The V, Lebrie C. DHEA and peripheral androgen and estrogen formation: intracinology. Ann NY
Acad Sci 1995;774:16-28.
26. McNeil C. Potential drug DHEA hits snags on way to clinic. J Natl Cancer Inst 1997;89:681-3.
27. Jones JA, Nguyen A, Straub M, Leidich RB, Veech RL, Wolf S. Use of DHEA in a patient with advanced prostate cancer: a case report and review. Urology 1997;50:784-8.
28. Zumoff B, Levin J, Rosenfeld RS, Markham M, Strain GW, Fukushima DK. Abnormal 24-hr mean plasma concentrations of DHEA and
DHEA-sulfate in women with primary operable breast cancer. Cancer Res 1981;41:3360-3.
29. Helzlsouer KJ, Gordon GB, Alberg AJ, Bush TL, Comstock GW. Relationship of prediagnostic serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone
and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to the risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer. Cancer Res 1992;52:1-4.
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Meschino Health Comprehensive Guide to Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
30. Berrino F, Muti P, Micheli A, Bolelli G, Krogh V, Sciajno R, et al. Serum sex hormone levels after menopause and subsequent breast
cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1996;88:291-6.
31. Barrett-Connor E, Friedlander NJ, Khaw KT. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and breast cancer risk. Cancer Res 1990;50:6571-4.
32. Bernstein L, Ross RK, Pike MC, Brown JB, Henderson BE. Hormone levels in older women: a study of post-menopausal breast cancer
patients and health population controlds. Br J Cancer 1990;61:298-302.
33. Heinonen PK, Koivula T, Pystynen P. Decreased serum level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in postmenopausal women with ovarian
cancer. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1987;23:271-4.
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Meschino Health Comprehensive Guide to Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Accessory Nutrients and Essential Oils
Digestive Enzymes
General Features
The vast majority of Digestive Enzymes in the body are secreted by the pancreas and the epithelial cells of the upper
intestinal tract. Saliva and stomach juices contain small quantities of Digestive Enzymes, such as amylase, lipase and
pepsin, but these sources do not factor significantly into the overall digestion of a meal or snack.1 In certain conditions,
such as cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis, there is a corresponding pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and supplementation
of Digestive Enzymes has been shown to be a legitimate aspect of treatment.2 In health conditions, where there has
been damage to the intestinal tract epithelial cells, (e.g., giardiasis, damage from non steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, excess alcohol consumption, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease) or an in-born defect resulting in insuf icient
lactase enzyme synthesis (lactose intolerance), the use of Digestive Enzymes is also of proven value.3,4,5,6 There is
also evidence that many people show a trend towards reduced digestive enzyme concentrations as they age. Some
authorities link this decline to an increased risk of degenerative diseases and provide some evidence that digestive
enzyme supplementation may be beneficial to counter these outcomes as we age.7 Other studies reveal that digestive
enzyme supplementation may be helpful in the management of various arthritic and allergic conditions as well as being
a potentially important adjunctive treatment for certain cancers.2,8,9
Clinical Application and Mechanism of Action
1. Post-Meal Bloating and Abdominal Discomfort (Indigestion or Dyspepsia)
Evidence has shown that digestive enzyme supplementation can improve digestion of a large, high fat, very rich
meal, in individuals with normal digestive processes. The subjects given the Digestive Enzymes reported less
bloating, perception of gas and fullness after consuming the same large, high fat, very rich meal as those given the
placebo. One clinical observation of significance suggests that individuals who chronically experience post-meal
(postprandial) bloating, belching or gas tend to have low gastric acidity if the symptoms arise shortly after
consuming a meal, whereas in patients where these symptoms develop an hour or more after eating, the problem
is more likely to be a result of digestive enzyme deficiency.10 Some reports indicate that 58% of the population
suf er from some type of digestive disorder and may thus, benefit from the use of digestive enzyme
supplementation.7
2. Cystic Fibrosis, Pancreatitis, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease
These conditions have been shown to benefit from the use of digestive enzyme supplementation as insuf icient
digestive enzyme synthesis and secretion are hallmark features of each of these conditions.2,3,4,5,6