Can DHEA make the fat go away?
A study shows that the hormone could control the effects of obesity. But it’s early. Don’t be swayed by the promises in ads. DHEA, a hormone with a checkered past, may have a future as a way to prevent and treat the metabolic problems caused by belly fat. The initials stand for dehydroepiandrosterone. (Little wonder it’s known by its initials!) It’s one of several hormones made by the adrenal glands, which are perched on the kidneys. The body converts it into estrogen, testosterone, and other less well-known hormones. DHEA also activates receptors that influence how we metabolize and store fat. Like many other hormones, DHEA has its heyday in the young. Fetal adrenal glands churn out 200 milligrams daily, 10 times the amount produced by adults. After birth, DHEA levels peak between the ages of 20 and 30 and then taper off at a rate of 5% per year. By age 70, most of us have negligible amounts in our systems.
