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Vitamin D Increases the Effects of DHEA

Posted by jamesmhoward on 03 Jan 2018 at 10:49 GMT

I suggest the basis of the findings of Raed, et al., is increased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is known that vitamin D receptors are involved in the synthesis of DHEA; it has been found to be involved in bone metabolism: "The study shows that the VDR gene predicts synthesis and/or metabolism of sexual steroid precursor DHEA in parallel with bone mineral density (BMD)." (Horm Metab Res. 2002 Mar;34(3):127-31) I think this relationship will exist in other tissues. Therefore, I suggest low vitamin D levels may be involved in low levels of DHEA.

In fact, DHEA has been used to reduce arterial stiffness: "DHEA replacement in elderly men and women improves indices of arterial stiffness." (Aging Cell. 2012 Oct; 11(5): 876–884.)

No competing interests declared.