Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone has been called the grandmother of all steroid hormones. The body manufactures it from cholesterol, and then uses it to make testosterone, cortisone, progesterone, estrogen, DHEA, androstenedione, aldosterone, and all other hormones in the steroid family. One reason given for using pregnenolone is that the level of many of these hormones declines with age. By taking pregnenolone supplements, proponents say, you can keep all your hormones at youthful levels. However, pregnenolone levels themselves dont decline with age, and there is no indication that taking extra pregnenolone will increase the levels of any other hormones. Furthermore, even if it did, that doesnt mean using pregnenolone is a great idea. Steroid hormones are powerful substances, and they can cause harm as well as benefit. Long-term use of cortisone causes severe osteoporosis; estrogen can increase the risk of cancer; and anabolic steroids (used by athletes) may cause liver problems and stress the heart. We really have very little idea what long-term consequences the use of pregnenolone might entail. Actually, it is ironic that pregnenolone is legally classified as a dietary supplement at all. Pregnenolone is not a nutrient. It is a drug, just as estrogen, cortisone, and aldosterone are drugs. We recommend not using it until we know more about what it really does.

Pregnenolone is not normally obtained from foods. Your body manufactures it from cholesterol. Supplemental pregnenolone is made synthetically in a chemical laboratory from substances found in soybeans.

A typical recommended dosage of pregnenolone is 30 mg daily, but some studies have used as much as 700 mg.

If you browse the Internet or read health magazines, youll find pregnenolone described as a treatment for an enormous list of health problems, including memory loss, Alzheimers disease, menopausal symptoms, adrenal disease, Parkinsons disease, osteoporosis, fatigue, stress, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and nerve injury. It is also supposed to help you lose weight, improve your brain power, and make you feel young again. However, like so many overhyped new supplements, there is very little scientific evidence for any of these uses. Studies involving rats suggest that pregnenolone may enhance memory but there have been no human studies.

Pregnenolone is a powerful hormone, not a nutrient we would naturally get in our food. You should approach this supplement with caution, as if it were a drugfor all intents and purposes, it is a drug. It would be best to consult your doctor before taking it. Pregnenolone is definitely not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with liver or kidney disease.