Would DHEA supplements be advisable

[misspops]

I was recently reading about a study that was done on untreated patients with PMR/GCA and the amounts of the different hormones that are released by the adrenal glands in regards to inflammation, with healthy subjects. Apparently, besides being low in cortisol, the hormone DHEA was significantly lower, especially in women. A couple of questions: Does the prednisone only replace the cortisol? If yes, then why aren't DHEA supplements recommended?

[SheffieldJane]

Can you send a link?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Probably because there hasn't been any appropriate clinical study done to show it would help. Just because they identify biochemical variations doesn't mean it is something that should be treated. The research was done about 20 years ago to seek evidence for the theory that PMR may be due to poor HPA axis function (hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal) and the results do seem to confirm that there may be something going on.

This

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

is a relatively recent very small pilot study and they are hoping to extend it since DHEA did appear to have a beneficial effect in these 4 patients with Addisons secondary to extended corticosteroid use. By no means all PMR patients are in that situation though.

healthline.com/nutrition/dh...

is a general article about DHEA. In general I think it is fair to say that not wnough is known about it to say one way or the other - and like anything that has any effect, it can also have undesirable effects.

[powerwalk in reply to PMRpro]

Is DHEA a supplement in a health shop? Or is that a different thing?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to powerwalk]

Apparently it is only available in the UK on prescription

pharmacy2u.co.uk/dhea.html

It is an "unlicensed medicine"

[powerwalk in reply to PMRpro]

Ah right, thank you.

[misspops in reply to powerwalk]

I got mine on Amazon.

[GrandmaPirate]

Because of my fatigue, my GP prescribed DHEA 7mg/day and my rheumy agreed. I was then on 6mg Pred/day and could no more cycle uphills. Now I can again and meanwhile tapered down Pred to 3m/d and 2mg/d (alternating days).

[Lochy]

I do find this quite fascinating but it is a bit tricky to understand exactly what it all means. Most of us do not have GPs let alone rheumatologists who will entertain any discussion around this sort of subject. Sadly it’s early days in this field in terms of research and therefore unlikely to benefit any of us. I’m reluctant to try treatments without my doctors approval but sadly we only get the treatment that our doctors are aware of.

[misspops]

Yes, the last two article, that you mentioned, are the ones I read. I just got DHEA supplements, 5 mg. I'm going try them and will report back.