Pregnenolone is a naturally-occurring androgen (hormone), a neurosteroid, or "brain steroid" produced by the adrenal glands and found in plasma, adrenal glands, liver, skin, gonads and brain tissue and goes into progesterone and other neurosteroids. Formed from cholesterol, Pregnenolone has been a focus of interest to scientists every since its discovery during the 1930's, because it occupies some important metabolic pathways where the body "decides' to make progesterone, DHEA, androgen, estrogen, and corticoids including cortisone, the most potent anti-inflammatory. The first studies were done by the great Canadian neuro-endocrinologist and theoretician, Dr. Hans Selye, who is best known for helping to shape current thinking about the body's response to stress. Selye was fascinated with the hormone even before anyone knew how it fit in the steroid hormone family tree and stated "the compound possesses, at least in traces, every independent main pharmacological action which has hitherto been shown to be exhibited by any steroid hormone."

Pregnenolone would probably be beneficial for both aging men and women and, like DHEA, drops in effectiveness profoundly with age, although age-related "norms" for Pregnenolone have not been as clearly established as for DHEA. Pregnenolone is made in the mitochondria, the chemical factory of the cells and in nerve cells.

Pregnenolone appear to have a wide margin of safety and has been used for over 3 months in does exceeding 50 mg per day without apparent toxicity. We still have much to learn about the clinical uses and optimum odes of pregnenolone - especially when combined with DHEA.

Benefits of pregnenolone

Our bodies are run by hormones, and DHEA is considered by many to be the "mother of hormones" because it literally can be transformed into over fifty other important hormones including the sex hormones testosterone, progesterone, and the estrogens. It can also be made into Cortisone, which is related to our inflammatory responses in the body. Cortisone plays important roles in the regulation of allergies, (rashes, sinusitis, hay fever, and asthma) and inflammatory conditions (arthritis, bursitis, and many others). DHEA has a positive effect on white blood cells, making them more active and effective. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity have all been associated with low levels of DHEA. There have been so many positive results from using DHEA that the FDA has recently approved it for over the counter sale - However , despite all the euphoria over it's use, it still should not be taken in high dosages. Dr. Mindell recommends 5-50 mg daily for women, and 25-100 mg daily for men, DHEA is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands, and is found in humans in abundance when we are young, but by middle age, the supply begins to drop. By age 50, most people produce only 30% of the DHEA that they did in their youth, and by age 60, it is barely detectable. The drop-off is significant, and dramatic. We actually have some long term studies regarding DHEA that are very revealing.

In one long term study of men between the ages of 50 and 79, researchers found that those with the lowest levels of DHEA had the highest rate of heart disease. Other studies of healthy men suggest that DHEA supplements cut cholesterol, reduce body fat, increase muscle mass, and relieve depression. Studies also show that men with the highest levels of DHEA were the least likely to be impotent. In animal studies, it has been shown to increase memory. All of these things combined are why people say this is the youth hormone!