History of DHEA

The history of DHEA began in 1931, with the German Dr Adolf BUTERNANDT (1) who isolated DHEA in its free form from human urine.
This doctor won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry a few years later, in 1939.

In 1944, the sulfated form of S-DHEA was in turn isolated. It was not until 10 years later, in 1954, that two researchers, Migeon and Plager (2), isolated DHEA in human blood and precise histological studies (Symington, 1956) (3) indicated that it was produced by the inner part of the adrenal cortex.

In 1958, the Frenchman, Max Fernand JAYLE, professor of biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, managed to measure precisely the almost linear decrease of DHEA in men and women as they age (Professor Etienne-Emile BAULIEU was one of his students).

1960: DHEA-S is produced by the adrenal cortex.

The study by Pr Étienne-Émile Baulieu (4) of a case of human adrenal tumor in 1960, provides proof that DHEA is indeed synthesized by the adrenal glands, but in the form of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S).

In humans, the metabolism of DHEA and DHEA-S was particularly studied during the 1960s, in particular by oral administration or by intravenous injection (most often using compounds labeled with radioactive isotopes). Thus, the transformation of DHEA into DHEA-S and the metabolism of DHEA into androgens and estrogens were confirmed. It was important to demonstrate that the metabolism of DHEA-S leads to the formation of the same derivatives as that of DHEA itself (Vande Wiele RL, 1963) (5).

In the 1970s, a series of international studies suggested the beneficial effects of DHEA on animals. This extensive work has been carried out in laboratory animals (mainly rats and mice) studying the effects of the administration of DHEA generally mixed with food.

Kalimi and Regelson (1990) (6), Thijssen and Nieuwenhuyse (1999) (7) and Bellino et al. (1995) (8) showed that high-dose DHEA could:

• Prolong the existence of animals
• Prevent certain cancers and certain viral diseases
• Treat certain types of obesity of genetic origin
• Protection against atherosclerosis

These results should be put into critical perspective. The reality of the observations is not in doubt, but their interpretation and their extrapolation to human problems are difficult.

DHEA has an anti-aging action. . .

It was not until 1994 that Professor Samuel YEN of the University of San Diego, California, published the first results of positive trials in humans confirming that DHEA has an anti-aging action. Indeed, the administration of DHEA to mature patients leads to biological, physical and psychological changes.

Alex Vermeulen, professor at Ghent Hospital, gave the first international conference on DHEA, organized by the New York Academy of Sciences, in 1995: "DHEA has a positive effect on well-being, the response to vaccination, memory and is very active against atherosclerosis. It was this same year that in the United States DHEA was authorized by the FDA.

In 1996, at Laval Hospital in Quebec, Fernand Labrie discovered a very significant increase in bone density in the subjects treated. This is proof of the great importance of DHEA in the fight against osteoporosis. Finally, other observations have established on the one hand a relationship between the intake of DHEA and the reduction of fat overload and on the other hand the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors.

Note: it has been found that the blood level of DHEA in people infected with the AIDS virus is very low.

Media coverage of the "Pill of Youth" 

At the same time, publicity around DHEA began in the United States, after a study published at the University of San Diego School of Medicine. The researchers, who wanted to show the effects of DHEA on the body, demonstrated an improvement in the physical and psychological well-being of patients, their sleep, as well as a greater ability to fight against stress.

Other studies had also hinted at the benefits that DHEA could provide in a large number of diseases such as: diabetes, obesity, cancer, dermatoses, etc. . .

From that moment on, DHEA made a lot of noise about it in the media, and was presented as “the hormone of youth”.

The year 2000 . . .

At the Hôpital Broussais in Paris, Professors Jayle and Kazatchkine administered 100 mg/day for 4 months to subjects seropositive for the AIDS virus. No toxic effects have been observed to date. The results have not yet been published. DHEA has also been found to increase sensitivity to thyroid hormones, improving thermogenesis, metabolism in overweight people, and energy production.

In April 2000, Professor Baulieu (9) published the results of the “dheâge” study which studied 280 volunteers over 60 years of age taking DHEA at 50 mg/day for one year. The results are proven and positive for women.

It is likely that men require higher doses (75-100mg/d).

In November 2000, a decisive turning point, the French Health Authorities authorized the sale of DHEA. However, DHEA still does not have an AMM (Marketing Authorization) in France, but, thanks to a legal loophole, it can be sold in pharmacies, in the form of a magistral preparation.

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Bibliography:

1. Butenandt A. and Dannenbaum H., 1934. Z physiol, Vol. 229, 192.
2. Migeon CJ and Plager JE, 1954. J Biol Chem, Vol. 209, 767.
3. Symington T., Duguid WP and Davidson JJ, 1956. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Vol. 16, 580.
   Effect of exogenous corticotropin on the histochemical pattern of the human adrenal cortex and a comparison with the changes during stress.
4. Baulieu EE, 1960. CR Acad Sci, Vol. 251, 1421-1423.
   Esters-sulfates of hormonal steroids. Isolation of 5-androstene ester-sulfase 3b-ol 17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone) from an adrenocortical tumor. Absence of free steroid.
5. Vande Wiele RL, MacDonald PC, Gurpide E., Lieberman S., 1963.
   Recent Progress in Hormone Research, Vol. 19, p.275-310. Studies on the Secret and Intervention.
6. Kalimi M. and Regelson W. eds, 1990.
   The Biologic Role of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (Walter de Gruyter Pub.).
7. Thijssen JHH and Nieuwenhuyse H., 1999. Parthenon Publishing Group, DHEA a comprehensive review, p.35-68 – Neuroactive neurosteroids: DHEA and DHEA-S.
8. Bellino FC, Daynes RA, Hornsby PJ, Lavrin LH, Nestler JE Vol. 774. 1995 Ann. NY Acad Sci. DHEA and Aging.
9. Baulieu EE et al, 2000. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Flight. 97, No.8, p.4279-4284. DHEA, DHEA Sulfate and aging: Contribution of the DHEAge Study to a sociobiomedical.