DHEA 7-Keto

DHEA is the most abundant steroid in the human body, and is involved in the manufacture of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone. The decline of DHEA with age parallels that of HGH, so by age 65, your body makes only 10 to 20% of what it did at age 20. DHEA appears to be a potent immune system booster. Chiu et al found that it rejuvenated many measurements of immune function in mice, including the production of T-cells (white blood cells that are crucial to the immune system) white blood cell crucial to the immune system), interleukin-2 (a chemical messenger called a cytokine that can improve the body's natural response to disease), and other immune factors, which decline with age. Several studies have shown that DHEA treatment reverses the age-related defect in the immunity of old mice against influenza, however results in humans have been not as conclusive.

Human skin (and other tissues) contains enzymes that convert DHEA to 7-keto DHEA, which is almost identical in structure to DHEA. Research on 7-keto DHEA suggests that it may prove useful for immune enhancement/modulation, Alzheimer's disease, and weight loss. Results of a study by Lardy et al revealed that 7-keto DHEA increases interleukin-2 production, and is better at doing so than DHEA. Interleukin-2 is a very important player in the immune system as it activates the immune system to fight invading pathogens. Because some individuals convert DHEA into testosterone, Vitamin Research Products offers 7-Keto, a DHEA metabolite that will not convert to testosterone or estrogen.*