50 Or 25mg DHEA Per Day Increased Progesterone But Also Decreased Testosterone

[japanesedude]

Progesterone increase under DHEA-substitution in males. - PubMed - NCBI

Two case reports of men suffering from excessive fatigue and depression are presented, both treated with 50 or 25 mg DHEA per day over a period of 1 year. Under DHEA treatment one subject reported being less tired and the other experienced improved well-being without depressive episodes and an increase in libido. Investigations of sex hormone parameters in plasma before and under treatment revealed a decrease of testosterone and an increase of progesterone in both, possibly dose-dependent to DHEA application. It is hypothesised that the increase of progesterone is parallel to an increase of its metabolite allopregnanolone (which was not determined), that might explain the improvement in well-being. The increase of progesterone under DHEA supplementation in males should receive further attention.

 

[haidut]

Progesterone increase under DHEA-substitution in males. - PubMed - NCBI

Two case reports of men suffering from excessive fatigue and depression are presented, both treated with 50 or 25 mg DHEA per day over a period of 1 year. Under DHEA treatment one subject reported being less tired and the other experienced improved well-being without depressive episodes and an increase in libido. Investigations of sex hormone parameters in plasma before and under treatment revealed a decrease of testosterone and an increase of progesterone in both, possibly dose-dependent to DHEA application. It is hypothesised that the increase of progesterone is parallel to an increase of its metabolite allopregnanolone (which was not determined), that might explain the improvement in well-being. The increase of progesterone under DHEA supplementation in males should receive further attention.

According to the study, DHEA strongly increased estradiol, which of course is quite expected given the massive doses of 25mg-50mg daily. These doses of DHEA are known to increase estrogen in both men and women. Anything that increases estrogen will decrease T through negative feedback mechanism at pituitary and also through Leydig cell function suppression. Now, if you find a study on low doses of DHEA causing similar issues then it would be something of note.
And btw, the antidepressant effects of DHEA were likely due to androsterone as much as they were to allopregnanolone elevation (which the study did not measure and simply assumed was higher).
DHEA metabolism to the neurosteroid androsterone: a possible mechanism of DHEA's antidepressant action. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[Sourdoughbanana]

I don’t think it makes any sort of sense to keep studying those doses of DHEA

Beneficial effects and side effects of DHEA: true anti-aging and age-promoting effects, as well as anti-cancer and cancer-promoting effects of DHEA e... - PubMed - NCBI

12.5mg would be a start. I have 25mg softgels that I’m opening up manually, taking 12.5mg 4 days a week

 

[Jackrabbit]

It also matters whether you take it orally or topically. Topical will cross the blood brain barrier whereas oral will pass through the liver and become sulfates (dheas) and then it can’t enter the brain. IMHO serum levels of most hormones are a pretty superficial marker, it doesn’t reflect much on how much is in the tissues.

 

[ecstatichamster]

3 - 6mg per day works for me.

 

[fradon]

i wonder if increasing SHBG would keep the T from converting to estrogen.