| KEY TERMS Conventional medicine—Mainstream or Western pharmaceutical-based medicine practiced by medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and other licensed health care professionals. Dietary supplement—A product, such as a vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, that is intended to be consumed in addition to an individual’s diet with the expectation that it will improve health. Hormone—A chemical messenger produced by one type of cell and travels through the bloodstream to change the metabolism of a different type of cell. Prohormone—A substance the body can convert into a hormone. Steroid—A family of compounds that share a similar chemical structure. This family includes estrogen and testosterone, vitamin D, cholesterol, and the drugs cortisone and prendisone. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—A serious autoimmune disease of connective tissue that affects mainly women. It can cause joint pain, rash, and inflammation of organs such as the kidney. |
Description
Precautions
Interactions
Complications
Parental concerns
Resources
What is Dhea?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor (prohormone) of the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. It is a steroid produced naturally by the adrenal glands and is also sold as a dietary supplement.
What is the Purpose of Dhea?
Many claims have been made for DHEA including that it fights aging, burns fat, increases muscle mass, boosts the immune system, eliminated symptoms of menopause, prevents Alzheimer’s disease, and can treat everything from inflammatory bowel syndrome to cocaine withdrawal. There is little or highly questionable evidence to support most of these claims. DHEA does have medical uses in treating adrenal insufficiency (Addi-son’s disease) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets © 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
