Where Does Health Begin?
Good health. Its tangibility ranks in importance with intangibles like love in living a fulfilling, meaningful life. There are so many aspects of being healthy. Cardiovascular health, gut health, and brain health are all elements of a vital, strong, well-functioning body. And, we can’t forget hormonal health when defining a body that functions optimally.
When considering hormone health, we think of things like testosterone and estrogen which relate to the production of gender. While these hormones are crucial to having a healthy body and enjoying a productive, vibrant lifestyle, they are actually the effect of other hormones – precursor hormones – that help create well-being. Hormone health starts with precursor or prohormones.
What Is Pregnenolone?
Pregnenolone is a precursor hormone, which means that it has to be present before other hormones can be made from it. It is created in the adrenal glands, which are small, triangular-shaped glands that sit atop the kidneys. Pregnenolone is made from cholesterol and is the precursor to making testosterone and estrogen, for example. Pregnenolone makes all steroid hormones in the body. Steroid hormones are broken down into two classes: corticosteroids and sex steroids.
Corticosteroids regulate functions like:
- Immune and stress responses
- Inflammation
- Glucose metabolization
Sex steroids are, of course, related to the development of male or female sex characteristics, and they include estrogen and androgens including testosterone.
How does Pregnenolone Relate to Testosterone?
As the precursor to creating testosterone, pregnenolone is crucial to maintaining an appropriate hormonal balance, but it can decrease as much as 60% when we age. That decrease leads to a decrease in production of testosterone, which, in turn, leads to symptoms of low T or andropause. Some of those symptoms include:
- Decreased sexual function and/or interest
- Decreased muscle mass
- Behavioral changes such as depression or irritability
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
Fortunately, pregnenolone has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, both those related to testosterone/sex hormones and others.
Benefits of Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone has been studied since the 1930s, when it was discovered to have properties that benefited both inflammation and fatigue. Since then, it has been discovered that pregnenolone has numerous other benefits. It has been found to alleviate inflammation in the brain and to aid in:
- Managing depression
- Treating memory loss and cognitive function
- Controlling pain
- Managing stress
- Alleviating chronic low back pain
Pregnenolone also can provide neuroprotective properties. In essence, that means that it can aid in stopping the degeneration of the nervous system and functions associated with it.
Side Effects of Pregnenolone
As a precursor to steroid hormones, pregnenolone may have similar side effects to steroids if it is prescribed in too high a dose. These side effects may include:
- Weight gain
- Changes in mood or irritability
- Fluid retention
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
Why APEX Hormone Health?
APEX Hormone Health in Parker, CO, is staffed by medical professionals who provide customized care based on your specific needs. Your treatment plan will include careful monitoring of all your symptoms to ensure that you are prescribed the right dosage of pregnenolone to avoid debilitating side effects. Our goal is to help you achieve your health goals. Call or Text: 720-856-0200 today so we can help you live healthily and happily.
Image credit:
| Envato Elements/bialasieewicz |
Disclaimer: The information contained here was not written by a medical doctor and is intended for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical advice.
