DHEA: the hormone that makes you lose weight?

DHEA is known to be anti-aging hormone. But they say it would also be an ally thin! Besides being good for memory, the bone, libido, DHEA could reduce obesity. We weighs the pros and cons of this alleged miracle pill ...



You've never heard of dehydroepiandrosterone? But if you are told DHEA, you see immediately what it is?

The hormone of youth?

Senior DHEA hormone weight loss What is this? Quite simply, we do not know exactly! Scientists initially have noticed that it secreted is increasingly up to the age of 20 years. Then she begins to decrease throughout the life of 70 years, it owns only 20% of the reserves of our best years. Not surprisingly, researchers in search of the hormone of youth were then asked: "And if we tried to maintain its high rate throughout life?". Result: the idea of DHEA supplementation would maintain cognitive abilities, the bone ... and boost the female libido.

But it is too early and many older people remain skeptical ... However, one argument will perhaps tip the balance.

Thinsations

So far, various studies showed that DHEA could have some effects on abdominal fat ... of laboratory rats! The question was, is it a miracle that this hormone may act in humans? U.S. researchers have therefore recruited 56 seniors, half receiving DHEA, the other half a placebo for six months. Result: a significant reduction in waist circumference. DHEA has resulted in a reduction of 10.2% body fat in the abdomen in women and 7.4% among men. The subcutaneous fat was in turn decreased by 6% in both sexes ...

Keep diabetes

But the action of DHEA is not only beneficial for the line. In addressing the abdominal fat, this supplementation would fight against the resistance to insulin. What is it? From a condition called metabolic syndrome, a sharp increase. Insulin is the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar in the blood after a meal. It will promote the storage of glucose. But food and obesity promote a "resistance" of the body to insulin, which becomes less and less effective ... until she does more of everything, and that diabetes (read our article on this epidemic diabesity). But the researchers said, DHEA allow insulin to function more optimally, reducing the risks.

No rush

No need to rush hour on DHEA! With regard to its slimming properties, there is a little premature to assert this new benefit. Moreover, the authors are putting up a larger investigation, to verify these new virtues. In addition, we lack perspective on this hormone could increase the risk of hormone-dependent cancers and cardiovascular disorders. In addition to these dangers, side effects are common: oily skin, acne ...

In short, to lose weight, as with aging, there is still no miracle pill, then prefer the simple means: a balanced diet and little physical activity.