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Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring steroid found in animal
tissues including the adrenal gland, brain, and gonads. Pregnenolone
is synthesized from cholesterol and is the precursor to a number of
steroid hormones including dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA) and progesterone.
While many effects of
pregnenolone have been reported, it appears that the most powerful
affect that pregnenolone offers is its ability to enhance memory. To
date no conclusive studies have been performed on humans, but in
animal trials pregnenolone has proven more effective in enhancing
memory and alertness than many other popular steroids and drugs. In
a study of health men, ages 20 to 30, pregnenolone (1 mg daily) was
found to improve sleep quality and decrease intermittent
wakefulness.
It has also been reported that pregnenolone may
play an important role in the neuroendocrine response to stress.
Pregnenolone appears to exhibit an antagonistic effect on the
calming receptors in the brain (gamma-amino butyric acid [GABA]
receptors), resulting in an excitatory effect. It is possible this
alteration in nervous system transmission could contribute to
seizure activity.
It has been reported that pregnenolone may
also be beneficial for use in connection with a variety of
rheumatologic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. In a clinical
study where 50-600 mg of pregnenolone was injected daily, six of
eleven rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced a noticeable
improvement in joint pain and joint mobility, which lasted for two
to four days following the therapy. In a similar study of
osteoarthritis patients, pregnenolone therapy was able to reduce
pain and improved mobility in seven of the participants. However,
pain did come back shortly after the therapy was discontinued. It
has also been suggested that pregnenolone therapy may be useful for
individuals suffering from gouty arthritis, systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE), psoriasis, and schleroderma.
There are
additional but unsubstantiated claims that pregnenolone is useful in
Alzheimer's disease, some forms of cancer and arthritis, in
degenerative diseases associated with aging, and in
obesity.
Pregnenolone Dosage
Recommendations
Typical pregnenolone doses are 5 to
50 milligrams daily. The safety of taking pregnenolone at any dose,
especially long term, is unknown.
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