7-Keto-DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone created by the adrenal glands that has a broad range of physiologic effects in the body. DHEA is a precursor for both male and female sex hormones, including testosterone and estradiol. Your DHEA levels are the highest around age 25, and levels decline gradually with age. By 70 to 80 years of age, DHEA levels have decreased to about 10 to 20 percent of those in young adults.

The relationship between DHEA decrease and increased age has generated the hypothesis that DHEA can be used in anti-aging treatment. Low DHEA levels, for example, are associated with conditions such as osteoporosis, cognitive decline, heart disease, and breast cancer. However, no evidence exists supporting the notion that DHEA can prevent or help these conditions¹.EA

What is 7-Keto-DHEA?

The compound 7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto-DHEA) is a form of DHEA that has an oxo group in position 7 of its chemical structure. Likewise, it is functionally similar to DHEA and can act as a blood serum metabolite, prohormone, and nutraceutical². Researchers have postulated that 7-Keto-DHEA can assist with weight loss.

DHEA and Weight Loss

DHEA has demonstrated effects in improving metabolic disorders related to weight and insulin resistance. One study, for example, evaluated if DHEA reduced abdominal fat and improved insulin activity in older adults. Results indicated that DHEA replacement decreased fat and lowered insulin levels. These findings suggest that DHEA could potentially prevent and treat metabolic disorders associated with abdominal obesity³.

Another double-blind trial evaluated overweight individuals taking 7-Keto-DHEA specifically. Study participants took either a placebo or 100 mg of 7-Keto-DHEA twice daily. Additionally, investigators advised participants to eat a 1,800 calorie daily diet and exercise three times weekly for 45 minutes. After eight weeks of treatment, individuals taking 7-Keto-DHEA lost more weight and decreased their body fat percentage more than those taking placebo. These effects were potentially because of increased thyroid hormone (T3) levels. T3 greatly influences someone’s metabolic rate, however, T3 levels were not higher than the normal range⁴.

Though DHEA has demonstrated weight improvements in some studies, other trials show conflicting results. For example, other human studies indicated that DHEA did not affect body weight. However, it did improve parameters such as LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and total body fat. Likewise, more evidence is needed to fully support its utility in weight loss.

Other conditions

DHEA is also implicated in several other conditions. These include:

• Adrenal insufficiency. When individuals have adrenal insufficiency, their adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones like cortisol and DHEA. Some studies indicate that DHEA supplementation could improve fatigue, mood, and wellbeing in these individuals.
• Initial studies suggest that DHEA could prevent bone loss in older women over the age of 70. However, the results were not positive in men or those under the age of 70.
• Sexual function. In one study, DHEA improved symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED), likely because DHEA is a precursor to testosterone. Additionally, other research indicates that DHEA could improve libido in older women. However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits¹.

References

1. Dehydroepiandrosterone information | mount sinai—New york. (n.d.). Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/dehydroepiandrosterone
2. (n.d.). 7-Keto-dehydroepiandrosterone. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/193313
3. Villareal, D. T., & Holloszy, J. O. (2004). Effect of dhea on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 292(18), 2243–2248. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.18.2243
4. 7-keto. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2794006

Author

David J. Bauder, PA-C David Bauder, PA-C, is a certified physician assistant and the assistant medical director at Weight Loss and Vitality in Manassas and Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, DC; and Gaithersburg, MD. He enjoys helping patients optimize their physical and mental health to improve their overall well-being. He earned his physician assistant degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Afterward, he gained admission into the reputable graduate program for physician assistant studies at the University of Nebraska Health Science Center in Omaha. David has over 26 years of experience working as a physician assistant. He’s practiced in podiatry, family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, urgent care, and functional medicine.