7-Keto DHEA as an Anti-Aging/Weight Loss Supplement
  • dbotdbot
    I came across the following excellent synopsis of the recent research on 7-keto DHEA as a supplement for weight loss and anti-aging, and wanted to share it here. This was put together by Nick Taylor as an argument for including 7-keto as a part of the DHEA page on Wikipedia:
    7-Keto DHEA is structurally practically identical to DHEA, from which it is derived by an enzymatic conversion process taking place in the body. Professor Henry A. Lardy and his team have researched 7-Keto DHEA for ten years at the Institute of Research on Enzymes at the University of Wisconsin. Based on this research, Professor Lardy has obtained 9 patents for the uses of 7-Keto DHEA, for reinforcing and modulating the immune system, contributing to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and favoring weight loss.

    • The main worry of certain DHEA disparagers is that it will partly convert itself into sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogens. This seems to be an obvious advantage for the healthy, looking to combat age-associated hormonal decline. Unfortunately, this means advising all those with a personal or a family history of hormonal-dependent cancer risk (prostate, breast, ovarian) against taking DHEA. This rules out the important part of the elderly, who would gain the most, from the benefit of supplementation. And some women badly support the side effects due to an increase of androgens which can be induced by DHEA (acne, facial hair). For these, 7-Keto DHEA is the ideal solution. Doses as high as 500 mg/kg have been administered to primates with no adverse effect being observed. This is equivalent to more than 100 times the recommended dose for a human being. A human toxicity study confirmed that in doses of 200 mg/day for 28 days, 7-Keto DHEA did not negatively affect biological blood and urine tests.

    • Lardy has demonstrated that 7-Keto DHEA is around 2.5 times more powerful, milligramme for milligramme, than DHEA, and this with no side effects. In fact, 7-Keto DHEA, metabolized in the body from DHEA, may be responsible for most of the beneficial effects attributed to DHEA. 7-Keto DHEA is more effective than DHEA for improving memory, inducing thermogenesis and reinforcing or modulating the immune system.

    • 7-Keto DHEA is without doubt the most effective supplement available for helping to lose weight durably and rapidly. Lardy's work demonstrates that taking 7-Keto DHEA significantly increases the liver production of thermogenetic enzymes as well as the production of the thyroid hormone T3 (without influencing either TSH or T4, and so with no negative impact on thyroid function) with, as a consequence, a sure but certain rise in basal metabolism. One double blind study was carried out on subjects taking 100 mg of 7-Keto DHEA twice a day for 8 weeks. During this study, the subjects absorbed 1,800 calories per day and exercised (moderately) 3 times 60 minutes per week. The supplemented subjects lost three kilos, whereas the controlled ones lost only one. At this dose, and during this length of time, 7-Keto DHEA caused no side effects. All those preoccupied with weight control should consider supplementation in 7-Keto DHEA.

    • All those taking DHEA can take 7-Keto DHEA if they are willing to pay a little more for a more effective and safer supplement. Those who cannot take DHEA because of the risk of hormonal-dependent cancer can take 7-Keto DHEA. With men who excessively aromatize testosterone, taking DHEA can lead to a simultaneous and undesirable increase in estradiol, a typically feminine estrogen. Replacing DHEA with 7-Keto DHEA will avoid this. Those wishing to effectively control their weight over a long period of time should make 7-Keto DHEA one of their basic supplements. Where DHEA does not succeed, or not succeed enough, 7-Keto DHEA, an active and improved form, should be tried.

    • Twenty-five to 50 mg per day is sufficient supplementation for the healthy, or in the case of an anti-aging programme. If you take 50 mg per day, it is preferable to divide the dose between two meals. Higher doses can be advised for limited periods.

    References:
    • Weeks C., Hardy H., Henwood S. Preclinical toxicology evaluation of 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone (7-Keto DHEA), FASEB J 1998;12:A4428.
    • Henwood S. M., Weeks C. E., Lardy H. An escalating dose oral gavage study of 3 beta-acetoxyandrost-5-ene, 17 dione (7-ox-DHEA acetate) in Rhesus monkeys. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun, 1999;254:120-3.
    • Davidson M. H., Weeks C. E., Lardy H., et al. Safety and endocrine effects of 3-acetyl-7-oxo DHEA (7-Keto DHEA) FASEB J 1998;12:A4429.
    • Colker et al., Double blind study evaluating the effect of exercise plus 3-acetyl-7-oxo dehydroepiandrosterone on body composition and the endocrine system in overweight adults. J. Exercise Physiology online, 1999;341:122-8.
    • Shi J., Lardy H. 3beta-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-7, 17 dione (7-Keto DHEA) improves memory in mice. FASEB J 1998;12:A4427.
    • Shi J., Schulze S., Lardy H. The effect of 7-oxo-DHEA acetate on memory in young and old C5577BL/6 mice. 2000;65(3):124-9.
    • Davidson M., Lardy H., et al. Safety and pharmacokinetic study with escalating doses of 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone in healthy male volunteers. Clin Invest Med. Vol23, n° 5, Oct 2000.

  • dbotdbot
    Here's a nice writeup about 7-keto from Life Extension - http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/may2005_cover_keto_01.htm

    Some highlights:

    In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.... Patients in the 7-Keto group had a significant decrease in immune suppressor cells and a significant increase in immune helper cells. The 7-Keto group also saw reductions in diastolic blood pressure and an increase in neutrophils, the first white blood cells to respond to infection.

    A study at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing confirms the immune-boosting properties of 7-Keto. Scientists exposed mice with compromised immune systems to chronic mild stress for four weeks. The traumatic regimen decreased their white blood cell proliferative response and produced other abnormalities in immune function. Additionally, levels of thyroid hormones decreased. However, when the mice were given 7-Keto at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight, their blood cell prolifera-tive response and natural killer cell activity were dramatically enhanced. The levels of thyroid hormone also returned to normal.

    A study at the Institute of Endocrinology in Prague, Czech Republic, revealed that 7-Keto contributes to cholesterol-lowering activity.... Beneficial HDL (high-density lipoprotein) rose significantly, even though harmful LDL (low-density lipoprotein) was only slightly diminished. These changes produced a strong improvement in the atherogenic index, which measures the risk of cardiovascular disease.

    A study with mice suggests that 7-Keto can boost memory as well. In this experiment, researchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison trained young mice in the use of a water maze. They found that a single injection of 7-Keto (at 24 mg/kg of body weight) reversed experimentally induced memory loss. The scientists then fed 7-Keto or DHEA to old mice that had learned the maze. They discovered that memory of the water-maze training was retained during a four-week test period in the mice receiving 7-Keto but not in those treated with DHEA.

  • dbotdbot
    Here's another great article about 7-keto, this time from Iron Man Magazine: http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/site/7-keto-dhea-thermogenic-and-anabolic/

    Some highlights:
    It also plays a major role in regulating thyroid function by boosting the thyroid hormone triiodthyronine, a.k.a. T3. Additionally, 7-keto DHEA helps increase the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins by accelerating the rate at which mitochondrial cells produce more ATP, the body’s fundamental energy molecule. 7-keto DHEA also improves thermogenic processes via transport of protons across mitochondrial membranes known as uncoupling proteins. UCPs directly affect thermogenic activity and bodyfat reduction, including how the body burns fat while you are doing absolutely nothing because it helps form L-carnitine, the mitochondrial fat-burning amino acid.

    7-keto DHEA enhances the production of insulinlike growth factor 1. IGF-1 is very similar in structure to insulin and is one of the chief anabolic hormones resulting from growth hormone. Known attributes of increased growth hormone production are decreased bodyfat, increased muscle mass, increased bone density, improved energy and heightened immune function.

    7-keto DHEA plays a role in reducing cortisol, the main catabolic hormone in the body. Researchers contend that 7-keto DHEA downregulates the actions of the enzyme that converts inactive glucocorticoids like cortisol to their active form. Elevated cortisol accelerates muscle wasting and encourages bodyfat storage.

    In a related study appearing in Physiological Research, men who administered 25 milligrams of 7-keto DHEA through a skin patch for five days reduced cortisol by 7.4 percent.
  • dbotdbot
    Incidentally, I tried taking 7-keto as a supplement for a little while, and I suspect it's one of those like pregnenolone and DHEA that people are taking waaay more than they've any business taking. The stuff made me feel pretty sick; I think it dropped my blood sugar really low.
  • MinhMinh
    Ahhhh, this is an awesome supplement imo. I take it sometimes as a Cyclist, it's a great non-CNS stimulant. It also doesn't hurt to have around when you have sick roommates or visiting plagued family .

    Bought mine from Life-Flo, in a topical lotion carrier.
    http://www.amzn.com/dp/B001IF21SK

    Supposedly, it's more bioavailable than when taken orally. I also bought Neno from them.

    1 pump of it, gives about 15 mg of 7-keto. Apply that to your collarbone, chest, arms, feet, or anywhere that has no hair really, and you're good to go.

    I've found it best taken in the morning, reading that cortisol levels are highest at waking up and falling asleep. It'll take care of that rocky-sluggish feeling upon waking up.

    Dbot, that sick feeling came across taking it. What did it feel like to you? Was it a fever feeling coming on?

    I'll add some more details of my experience with it, once I get off from work.
  • dbotdbot
    Yeah, it felt kind of flu-like. I had a general malaise, with some nausea and weakness.
  • MinhMinh
    Im not a qualitative researcher. Trying 7-keto DHEA was purely for fun and curiosity to understand it as a whole.

    For me, it raises my tolerance towards stress and I can feel it, especially for the physical signs. This is upon initial application of the lotion.

    Even though the 7 keto is suspended in lotion, Im almost positive that I've witnessed pheromone effects that people have described in mcg-ng levels. I think it also buffered my alpha formulas.

    3-4 hours in, is when I start to notice an increase in body temperature. Here is when it gets interesting cause I will sweat profusely and Im not sure what pheromone by-product I leave off at the end, but more often than not, i'll have what is similar to a Androstenone overdose signs from people.
  • logoslogos
    I hadn't thought 7-keto DHEA had metabolites but this article claims it breaks down into an aromatase inhibitor. Which makes me wonder if it is an aromatase inhibitor.

    ... I'd need a better source for the info than this website, but I don't have the time now.

    http://prohormonedb.com/view-ingredients.asp?n=Androsta-3,5-Diene-7,17-Dione+(Arimistane)&i=198
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