Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone  is a prohormone involved in the steroidogenesis of progesterone, estrogens, testosterone, stress hormones (i.e. cortisol), and DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, a sexual steroids prohormone). Pregnenolone can be synthesize by adrenal glands and the central nervous system.

The functions of pregnenolone in the body are not well known.
Yet, there are several studies on the effects of pregnenolone on nervous system and aging process.

Some studies have suggested it can help improving sleep quality.

A study monitoring pilots under stress found out that the administratio of 25mg pf pregnenolone twice a day could imporve performance without any side effect.

Some studied have reported benefits by using pregnenolone in a wide range of rheumatologic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, lupus, psoriasis and scleroderma. Indeed, it's been used since the 1940's to reduce joint swelling and inflammation linked to arthritis.

In a double-blind study of elderly women with wrinkles, daily application of a 0.5% pregnenolone acetate cream improved the visible wrinkling of the skin. When the treatment was discontinued, the benefit was not maintained though.

Because pregnenolone is the precursor of all steroidal hormones, it has been suggested that boosting the body’s pregnenolone levels through supplementation will offer the same health benefits as taking multiple hormone supplements. Pregnenolone is thought to improve mental function and mood, and research indicates it may also be useful for treatment of PMS, arthritis, and stress.

As we age, pregnenolone levels decreases. In some cases, it can be helpful taking nutritional supplements of it.

So far, it's not  known any drug interaction or side effects resulting by a supplementation with pregnenolone. It's been found that it may increase the levels of pregesterone and DHEA, and theoretically of other hormones. Therefore, it might affect the endocrine system. Again, there's still no evidence about possible side effects or interactions by taking pregnenolone supplementation.

The research is still on the go.




References:

Akwa Y, Young J, Kabbadj K, et al. Neurosteroids: biosynthesis, metabolism and function of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone in the brain. J Steroid Biochem Molec Biol 1991
Flood JF, Morley JE, Roberts E. Pregnenolone sulfate enhances post-training memory processes when injected in very low doses into limbic system structures: the amygdala is by far the most sensitive. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1995
Flood JF, Morley JE, Roberts E. Memory-enhancing effects in male mice of pregnenolone and steroids metabolically derived from it. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1992
George MS, Guidotti A, Rubinow D, et al. CSF neuroactive steroids in affective disorders: pregnenolone, progesterone and DBI. Biol Psychiatry 1994
Guth L, Zhang Z, Roberts E. Key role for pregnenolone in combination therapy that promotes recovery after spinal cord injury. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1994
Isaacson RL, Varner JA, Baars JM, de Wied D. The effects of pregnenolone sulfate and ethylestrenol on retention of a passive avoidance task. Brain Res
Maione S, Berrino L, Vitagliano S, et al. Pregnenolone sulfate increases the convulsant potency of N-methyl-D-aspartate in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 1992
Melchior CL, Ritzmann RF. Pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate, alone and with ethanol, in mice on the plus-maze. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1994
Pincus G, Hoagland H. Effects of administered pregnenolone on fatiguing psychomotor performance. Aviation Med 1944;April
Steiger A, Trachsel L, Guldner J, et al. Neurosteroid pregnenolone induces sleep-EEG changes in man compatible with inverse agonistic GABAA-receptor modulation. Brain Res 1993
Sternberg TH, LeVan P, Wright ET. The hydrating effects of pregnenolone acetate on the human skin. Curr Ther Res 1961
Wu FS, Gibbs TT, Farb DH. Pregnenolone sulfate: a positive allosteric modulator at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. Mol Pharmacol 1991;40:333–6.









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