DHEA and longevity

An interesting article has been published in Science magazine (2002 Aug 2;297(5582):811) that correlates blood DHEA level and longevity.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural, intermediate steroid hormone produced in our body by the adrenal glands. DHEA is called "mother of hormones", or prohormone because DHEA is further converted to generate 50 other essential hormones. For example, DHEA is converted to androgens (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells. DHEA is the most abundant hormone in our blood, and adequate blood DHEA level is critical for many vital hormonal and metabolic functions of our body. Our bodies produce less and less DHEA as we age, and as a result, our blood DHEA level decreases as we get older, generally falling significantly by the age of 30, and by as much as 50% by as 40.

Scientist at National Institute of Aging, MD. studied the correlation of a few factors (body temperature, blood insulin and DHEA levels) to the length of a person's life. On the average, people who have a lower body temperature are likely to live longer, as do those with lower levels of isulin, and those with higher levels of DHEA in their blood, according to the observations on aproximately 1,500 participants.

Although the researchers are not sure of the reasons behind this finding, it may be due to a lower rate of metabolism (lower body temperature and blood insulin levels), based on animal studies, and the rejuvenating function of DHEA (higher blood DHEA levels). These animals live longer by as much as 40% of normal life span, and also have lower body temperature, lower blood insulin levels, and higher DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, or S-DHEA, or DHEA-S) levels. It could be genetic or it could be something else, such as life style or diet.

DHEA Research Links