Pregnenolone

                                                                                          Pregnenolone

                                                                                            Tara Raven
   

    DHEA has been described as the "mother hormone" (Alternative-Doctor, n.d.). This term would be better applied to pregnenolone, which is the basic precurser, or starting raw material, for the production of all the human steroid hormones, including DHEA, progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol and aldosterone.

    Pregnenolone is mainly promoted as an alternative treatment that improves memory and alertness, and reduces stress, depression, and fatigue. Pregnenolone also helps treat a variety of other conditions such as arthritus, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, multiple sclerosis, PMS, and menopause. (American Cancer Society, n.d., ACS)

    In the 1940’s, researchers were experementing with pregnenolone and realizing that it was helpful for people under stress and it increased energy in those who were fatigued. (Pregnenolone side effects and Pregnenolone benefits, n.d.) About the same time , cortisol, another closely related hormone, was discovered and it stole the limelight. Cortisol was given to people with rheumatoid arthritis with outstanding short term results. Photographs of these remarkable recoveries were distributed throughout the medical community, which was very impressed.
Scientists basically put pregnenolone aside to focus on cortisol. (Mercola, n.d.) The structure of cortisol was altered to make molecules such as dexamethasone, prednisone and other similar cortisteroids, which of course could be patented, and thus pharmaceutical companies could make a lot of money. (Alternative-Doctor, n.d.) Pregnenolone was phased out of medical use, yet it has proven to be radically safer and more versitile than the specific steroid hormones that replaced it.

     DHEA and  pregnenolone levels decline with age. Many physicians and scientists believe that replacement of pregnenolone to youthful levels is an important step in the treatment of the symptoms of aging.(Mercola, n.d.) Pregnenolone may be one of the most important hormones because it seems to have a balancing effect. It is a precursor to many other hormones and may be able to bring the levels of other hormones up or down as
needed. It has been recommended that a dosage 50 mg in the evening for people under the age of 50 and 100 mg in the evening for those over 50 should be sufficient. However if you are self dosing, judge how you feel and what your energy is. Always consult your doctor when taking new medications or altering prescriptions.

    Pregnenolone has many amazing benefits. It has been found to be 100 times more effective for memory enhancement than other steroids or steroid-precursors in laboratory mice. “Pregnenolone appears to be the most potent memory enhancer yet reported in animals”. (Alternative Doctor, n.d.) One of it’s most important actions is to counter damage caused by the natural stress hormone, released from the adrenal gland called cortisol. Pregnenolone blocks cortisol in the brain thus stopping its blunting of the memory. (ACS, n.d.)

    Some other hormones that decline with age are the estrogens, testosterone, progesterone and growth hormones. These are considered ‘biomarkers’ of aging as well. Since pregnenolone provides the initial raw material from which all the other steroid hormones are made, some of our other hormones will decline in a parallel fashion. (Mercola, n.d.) While our hormones are diminishing, loss of quality-of-life progressively settles in. We slowly begin to experience physical and mental decline; loss of energy, memory loss, visual and hearing impairment, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and sexual decline, just to name a few. (ACS,n.d.) Supplementing small amounts of these neuro-hormones may slow these age-related processes, improving one's quality of life by rejuvenating the body to more youthful functioning.

     According to Dr R. Sahaleian, M.D.; “Some people have found pregnenolone improves energy levels, vision, memory, clarity of thinking, wellbeing, and often sexual enjoyment. Some women report lessening of hot flashes or premenstrual symptoms. Studies in rodents show pregnenolone to be one of the most effective and powerful memory boosters”.

    Pregnenolone is not without its caviats. Some side effects could include: Overstimulation and insomnia. Insomnia can lead to fatigue and exhaustion. Some people feel sleepy after they take a pregnenolone supplement. Other symptoms of overstimulation can surface as:

Irritability, anger or anxiety
Acne
Headaches
Possible scalp hair loss if used daily for prolonged periods
Irregularities of heart rhythm, palpitations on high doses

    It seems that the benefits far outwiegh the negative side efects, all which seem to be able to be corrected by adjusting the dosage of Pregnenolone. (ACS, n.d.)The least possible dose is usually the most effective. Consulting a profesional is usualy always the best answer.

    When searching for a good source of Pregnenolone keep in mind, “There is a type of plant called a wild yam that is grown in certain parts of the southern U.S. and in Mexico. This wild yam contains a compound called diosgenin that is the precursor to steroid hormones. In a laboratory, diosgenin is converted into pregnenolone. Further laboratory processing can convert pregnenolone into DHEA. The human body does not have the ability (the required enzymes) to convert diosgenin (a six ring structure) into pregnenolone (a four ring structure). Therefore, if you swallow pills that are extracts of wild yams (diosgenin), you will not get pregnenolone or DHEA. The conversion of diosgenin to pregnenolone has to be done in a laboratory. If you want pregnenolone or DHEA, the bottles you buy must say that they contain actual pregnenolone or DHEA, not extracts of wild yams or diosgenin.” (Pregnenolone side effects and Pregnenolone benefits, n.d.)