How 7-Keto DHEA Can Help You Lose Weight

According to Henry Lardy, PhD, of the National Academy of Sciences, 7-KETO DHEA offers the potential benefits of DHEA without the risks. 7-KETO DHEA is a natural metabolite, also called conversion product, of DHEA. Once DHEA is converted to the 7-KETO form it can no longer be used to make the sex hormones that present cancer risks. In preliminary studies on animals, 7-Keto DHEA stimulates the immune system, prevents muscle loss ,reduces stress, increases the calorie-burning rate by activating thermogenic liver enzymes and improves memory more than DHEA or a placebo. We will show you how 7-Keto DHEA can be used to help you quickly lose weight. 7-Keto DHEA is a metabolite of DHEA. It is a steroidal hormone that was discovered in the 1950s but received little research attention until the 1990s. Henry Lardy and his collaborators at the University of Wisconsin are currently studying this and related compounds for use in fat reduction, memory enhancement, immune system regulation, skin rejuvenation, dermatitis treatment, and wasting syndrome.

The term 7-Keto is in fact a brand name for the chemical compound 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandros-terone, a naturally occurring metabolite primarily produced in the adrenal glands and skin . It was first discovered in 1958, when it was found in urine. Human blood levels of 7-Keto tend to follow the same course over time as those of DHEA, rising until about the age 20 and then slowly descending beginning around the age of 30. Urinary excretion studies show that average blood concentrations of 7-Keto decline nearly 50% by age 50. “This reduction in 7-Keto levels is partially responsible for the increases in body fat and total body weight often seen in older people,” notes Dr. Sergey Dzugan, president of Life Extension Scientific Information, Inc. “This decline also plays a role in the compromised immune function that is a hallmark of the aging process. Moreover, since DHEA and 7-Keto decline at a more rapid rate than cortisol, this creates a period of cortisol dominance that can wreak havoc on the immune system. For these reasons, supplementation with 7-Keto is often appropriate.”

7-Keto DHEA produces fat reduction through the process of thermogenesis. This term refers to the creation of heat. Increased levels of thermogenesis cause the metabolic rate to rise, which results in the conversion of stored fat into energy. 7-Keto DHEA enhances the activity of three thermogenic enzymes that stimulate fatty acid oxidation in the liver. These thermogenic enhancing enzymes are fatty acyl CoA oxidase, malic enzyme, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.6,10-12. These enzymes drive the liver cells to burn fatty acids for energy, which causes a lowering of triglycerides in the liver. Supplementation with 7-Keto has a dramatic effect on boosting levels of these thermogenic-enhancing enzymes.

A study published in Current Therapeutic Research revealed just how effective 7-Keto is in inducing rapid weight loss.  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 30 overweight adults (28 women and 2 men) were divided into two groups. Group 1 received 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily for eight weeks, while group 2 took a matching placebo capsule. All subjects participated in an exercise program three times a week that consisted of 50 minutes of aerobic and non-aerobic cross training under the supervision of an exercise physiologist. In addition, each subject was instructed by a registered dietitian to follow an 1800-calorie-a-day diet. The subjects underwent testing for blood chemistry, body composition, blood pressure, and dietary analysis at baseline and at weeks four and eight. The researchers found that the 7-Keto group lost a significant amount of body weight compared to the placebo group. 6.3 versus 2.1 pounds. The 7-Keto group also lost a greater percentage of body fat compared to the placebo group. 1.8% versus 0.57%. No adverse effects were reported. The results show that 7-Keto can significantly and safely reduce body weight and body fat when combined with exercise and a reduced-calorie diet. This is due to the greatly increased levels of fat-burning enzymes in the liver as well as the elevation of thyroid hormone. These beneficial changes are known to boost basal metabolic rate, making it easier to shed excess pounds. Supplementation with 7-Keto can therefore help reverse the decline in metabolic rate that makes it so easy to put on weight as we age.

Unlike caffeine and ephedrine, 7-Keto does not have a central nervous system stimulating effect caused by nor-adrenalin release, nor does 7-Keto increase heart rate or blood pressure. Aging is associated with a decline in immune system response, with often-dramatic reductions in immune function. This leads to increased susceptibility to infections. A study at the Minnesota Applied Research Center and the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center in Minneapolis found that four weeks of 7-Keto DHEA supplementation improved immune function in elderly men and women.  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 22 women and 20 men over the age of 65 took 100 mg of 7-Keto DHEA twice daily or a placebo of identical shape and size. Patients in the 7-Keto group had a significant decrease in immune suppressor cells and a significant increase in immune helper cells. The scientists concluded that 7-Keto was well tolerated and had no serious adverse effects.