High Doses of DHEA Treats Metabolic Syndrome

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High Doses of DHEA Treats Metabolic Syndrome
Extending beyond existing information, researchers already know about DHEA's ability to reduce the accumulation of abdominal visceral fat and protect against insulin resistance in animal trials.

Scientists from the Department of Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine wanted to further verify whether the hormone could work to decrease abdominal obesity in humans and improve insulin action in elderly persons. To determine its efficacy in a human population, the investigators randomly selected 56 elderly subjects (ages 65-78) with age-related DHEA deficiency to receive 50 mg of DHEA per day or placebo for six months. Small but significant changes were noted, and the results concluded that DHEA replacement could play a role in prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome associated with abdominal obesity.

References:

1.Villareal D, Holloszy J, "Effect of DHEA on Abdominal Fat and Insulin Action in Elderly Women and Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” JAMA. 2004;292:2243-2248.