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Stress
DHEA levels are closely tied to stress. Studies have shown that stress
caused by traumatic events such as burns or illnesses significantly decrease
DHEA, testosterone, and androstenedione levels, while increasing the level
of cortisol. Calmness, such as seen in individuals practicing transcendental
meditation, is associated with higher levels of DHEA.
Clinical Studies
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Researchers at the National Center for
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder have found that the hormone
dehydroepiandrosterone-S (DHEA-S), which is known to enhance memory and
reduce depression and aggression in mice, appears to have a role in coping
with stress.
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Soldiers, studied during grueling military
survival school exercises, were found to have the fewest symptoms of
dissociation, which is known to present a higher risk of developing post
traumatic stress disorder, were found in the soldiers with the highest
ratio of DHEA-S to the stress hormone, cortisol. They also performed
better under pressure, in terms of the survival school exercises. This
appears to indicate that the DHEA-S acts as a buffer against a negative
stress impact but it is not known exactly what determines how much is
produced.
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In one study, participants in a
stress-reduction program increased DHEA by 100% and reduced stress hormone
production (cortisol) by 23%.
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Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of
Medical Sciences, Siberian Branch, Institute of Cytology and Genetics,
Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk.
Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS, 30 mg/kg, i.p., 4 and 28
hours after the injection) were studied in CBA/Lac male mice different in
the level of anxiety resulting from repeated social victories (winners) or
social defeats (losers) in 10 daily agonistic confrontations. The losers
demonstrated high level of anxiety estimated by the "partition" test. The
DHEAS and saline injections had different effects on winners, losers, and
intact mice. DHEAS prevented the development of anxiety in losers 28 hours
after the injection. In these experimental conditions DHEAS exerted no
effect on winners. It was concluded that the DHEAS effect depends on the
psychoemotional state of an animal. The anxiolytic effect of the exogenous
DHEAS may be also characteristic of the endogenous hormone secreted by the
adrenal glands and in the central nervous system.
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