Various medical solutions were discovered, holding several uses and health benefits, and are utilized to promote and maintain health conditions. Generally, the human body is a complex system. There are many different hormones which act like gears to the machine or marbles in the puzzle. They play a role in many functions like muscle growth, moods, metabolism, and sexual desire. If you think of health as a puzzle where all these hormones work together to create balance, then it could be said that pregnenolone is one gear that when functioning properly, helps keep the body running efficiently. Then, other hormones can be able to do their jobs effectively. It’s produced directly from cholesterol, which itself is made in the adrenal glands.
Pregnenolone, similar to testosterone and other sex hormones, is also a steroid hormone that plays a key role in the production of other steroid hormones. It is found naturally in the body, made primarily in the adrenal glands. Smaller amounts of this hormone can also be produced in other organs such as the skin, brain, gonads, liver, and even the eyes. Pregnenolone is made from cholesterol as well, being a starting material in the production of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, estrogen, and other hormones.
Pregnenolone Levels
The levels of pregnenolone actually fall dramatically as one ages. This makes it the reason why adults experience cognitive deficiencies as they grow old, along with experiencing a spike in their mental health as well. Additionally, when one has an imbalance of pregnenolone, or has low pregnenolone levels, it may affect how testosterone, DHEA, estrogen, and cortisol work within our bodies. It can lead to an overall deficiency in other, more biologically active hormones. Thus, in cases like this, people are given an option to take it in supplement form.
If you want to know more about how pregnenolone works in the body, its benefits, side effects, and the like, continue reading.
Uses and Effectiveness
As mentioned above, pregnenolone is a steroid hormone that plays a vital role in making other steroid hormones. And aside from this, it has a number of other important functions in the body. From being an anti-aging compound, for hormone replacement, to being a treatment of a myriad of medical conditions. And because pregnenolone is a forerunner in the production of other hormones, it is occasionally presented to be an effective way to increase hormone production, making individuals feel more energized and younger.
Low levels of pregnenolone have been deemed to be linked to memory problems and cognitive deficits, which are most commonly experienced by adults. This is because levels of pregnenolone decrease when a person ages. But then, in some cases where aging is not a factor, low levels may also lead to fatigue, low energy, low mood, and even increased symptoms of menstruation.
In addition, pregnenolone is also linked to be a factor in maintaining cognitive health and healthy brain function. Similar to how it is used for other steroid hormones, it is also used to create neurohormones in the brain. It acts as a support in healthy nerve cell function and regulating mood. It can enhance memory and prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Also, it might even help in decreasing stress levels while improving immunity and increasing energy.
Health Benefits
Pregnenolone is used to be a general balancing hormone. Thus, it provides a number of health benefits to those who are taking supplements that include the right amount of this steroid hormone. Studies have shown that healthy pregnenolone levels support overall healthy hormone levels. This means that it can boost the immune system, reduce stress, and prolong life as well. It is effectively used alongside testosterone and estrogen. It relieves the symptoms of estrogen imbalance. Menopausal symptoms in women, and andro pause and testosterone deficiency in men.
Moreover, it has been deemed that pregnenolone can also help combat age-related cognitive issues and memory impairment. They can be used as a means to protect against a variety of health conditions, particularly for adults, as well. In alternative medicine, pregnenolone is also said to help treat certain health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast condition, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and scleroderma.
Possible Side Effects
The effectiveness of incorporating pregnenolone in the body is still in the process of research and study. But then, it might still lead to certain side effects. There is still a little knowledge relative to the safety of long-term or regular consumption of pregnenolone supplements. Thus, might even trigger some issues in your body. It might cause some steroid-like side effects including overstimulation, insomnia, irritability, anger, anxiety, acne, headache, negative mood changes, facial hair growth, hair loss, and irregular heart rhythm.
Given these effects, it is better to avoid the consumption of pregnenolone if you are at risk for hormone-sensitive conditions. This includes conditions such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. In these cases, you must wait for the advice of your doctor relative to this.
Symptoms of Low Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone has the role of being the body’s main steroid hormone precursor. With this, it has been typically included in a comprehensive hormone panel. Low pregnenolone levels are often the result of a hormonal imbalance or shortage. However, because symptoms caused by low pregnenolone are likely to overlap with symptoms caused by more strong downstream hormones like testosterone, it’s difficult to distinguish particular symptoms caused by low pregnenolone.
Though this is the case, symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, poor memory, poor mood, irritability, anxiety, reduced libido, low energy, fatigue, limited mobility, poor brain function, and low levels of neurohormones are still factors of having low pregnenolone levels. Thus, if one experienced any of these constantly, it may be a sign of having this hormone deficiency.
Key Takeaway
Being an active element relative to treating cognitive issues and other health-related problems, pregnenolone becomes an essential component in maintaining how one’s body functions properly. The majority of this hormone is also known to be synthesized in the adrenal glands. It is likely to be used to create cortisone — the body’s main stress hormone. Moreover, it is naturally in the body, but decreases as one gets older. Thus, it is important to be wary of the signs of having low levels of pregnenolone as you age. With this, you will be able to take effective measures on how to increase them. This includes the consumption of pregnenolone supplements that your doctor might recommend to you.
