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Is DHT important for older men?

4) Heart Health Lower levels of DHT and testosterone resulted in an increased risk for cardiovascular complications for men undergoing testosterone-lowering treatment for prostate cancer. Elderly men with higher levels of DHT have lower death rates from heart disease [14, 15].

labs.selfdecode.com - 14 Effects of DHT + How to Increase & Decrease It - SelfDecode Labs

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DHT is commonly associated with pubertal changes and baldness in men. However, DHT has various health benefits and is possibly effective at improving certain diseases. Read on to learn the benefits, risks, and how to increase/decrease it.

What is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a sex hormone created from testosterone in the body. It plays a major role in the development of masculine characteristics (body hair, muscle growth, and a deep voice). DHT is critical to the development of the penis and prostate in men. It’s a much more powerful hormone than testosterone and plays a major role in male-pattern baldness [1]. Men with an enzyme (5-AR) deficiency are unable to make DHT from testosterone and have reduced development and function of reproductive organs [2]. DHT activates androgen receptors needed for sexual differentiation during fetal development and changes in males during puberty. It is also necessary for maintaining a sex drive in men [3]. DHT is a sex hormone created from testosterone, but more powerful. It maintains sex drive and develops masculine characteristics in men.

9 Potential Effects of DHT

1) Blood Sugar Control

DHT may help those with diabetes and high blood sugar by regulating glucose metabolism [4]. According to a study on mice, it may lower blood sugar levels and help with type 2 diabetes in males. Application of DHEA to rats increased levels of DHT and improved insulin-sensitivity, weight, and body fat [5, 6].

2) Memory

Men between the ages of 34 and 70 showed improvements in memory when treated with DHT skin patches [7].

3) Sexual Function

DHT can improve sexual ability in men regardless of factors like age and obesity. Along with testosterone, it’s necessary to maintain a healthy sex drive in men [8, 9]. DHT helped boys born with reduced penile function. It is the main hormone to prevent erectile dysfunction in rats [10, 11]. Women with lifelong sexual abstinence were more likely to have low levels of free DHT in the blood [12].

DHT is crucial for sexual health, libido, and erections in men.

4) Heart Health

Lower levels of DHT and testosterone resulted in an increased risk for cardiovascular complications for men undergoing testosterone-lowering treatment for prostate cancer. Elderly men with higher levels of DHT have lower death rates from heart disease [14, 15].

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5) Strength and Muscle Mass

In women, muscle DHT levels correlate with strength and power [16].

DHT appeared to increase muscle mass in postmenopausal rats [17].

6) Autoimmune Diseases

Men are 3-20 times less likely to get multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, Graves’, Sjogren’s, and other autoimmune diseases. This may be due, in part, to male hormones having a protective effect against autoimmune conditions [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]. In animal models, DHT was useful in treating autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), prostatitis, Graves‘ and uveitis by balancing the immune system. Specifically, it can lower T helper cells (Th1) that are higher in autoimmune diseases [24, 25, 26, 18, 27, 28].

Here are some effects of sex hormones on the immune system [29]:

Estrogens Androgens Overall: enhanced immune response Overall: diminished immune response Enhanced antibody-mediated responses to exogenous antigens Decreased antibody production Enhanced T-cell cytotoxicity Decreased T-cell proliferation Increased cytokine and chemokine levels (interferon-gamma production) Alteration of the cytokine profile to decrease inflammation (including decreased interferon-gamma production) Decreased IL-6 production Increased IL-6 and IL-10 production Enhanced antigen-presenting cell activation Decreased MHC class II antigen expression on antigen-presenting cells Stronger innate immune responses by increased nitric oxide production Reduced nitric oxide production

7) Healthy Cognitive Function

Declining levels of DHT and other sex hormones in older men are associated with declining cognitive function [30].

8) Anxiety & Depression

Testosterone’s anti-anxiety benefits were shown to be a result of the actions of DHT in the brain [31]. The drug finasteride, which lowers DHT levels in the blood, may induce symptoms of depression [32].

9) Bone Growth

DHT is vital for bone density – increased blood levels are associated with higher bone density in men [33].

Other

DHT relieved pain caused by diabetes in rats [34].

Negative Effects of High DHT

1) Male Pattern Baldness

A study found that a group of men with male pattern baldness had higher levels of DHT [35].

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Higher levels of DHT were found in blood samples obtained from men with premature baldness [36].

2) Acne

DHT may trigger inflammatory acne [37].

3) Prostate Cancer

DHT is critical for the normal development of the prostate, but it can also contribute to benign prostate enlargement [38]. DHT can fuel prostate cancer even if testosterone production is stopped by removing the testicles [39, 40]. On the other hand, men with lower levels of DHT are more likely to get prostate cancer, have an advanced form of prostate cancer, and have a decreased survival rate for prostate cancer [41]. DHT helps the prostate develop, but too much of it can contribute to benign prostate enlargement.

4) Depression In Women

In one study, women treated for major depression had higher levels of DHT and other male sex hormones [42]. Finasteride, which inhibits DHT production, is effective in treating women suffering from male-like hair growth [43].

Ways To Increase DHT

Discuss any significant lifestyle, diet, or supplement changes with your doctor before incorporating them into your daily regimen. Many such changes can have unexpected interactions.

Lifestyle

Exercise [44]

Losing body fat (humans) [45]

Sprinting [46]

Foods and Nutrients

Dietary fat [47]

Zinc (with meals) [48]

Supplements

Ways To Decrease DHT

Note: most of the studies cited here are done in animal or cellular models. As with strategies to increase DHT, remember to discuss any significant changes to your lifestyle, diet, and supplement plans with your doctor to prevent unexpected interactions.

Drugs

5AR Inhibitors (Finasteride, Dutasteride): they prevent testosterone from converting into DHT [55] Testosterone (in elderly men) [56]

Supplements

Foods and Nutrients

These are products that only inhibit the effects of DHT.

Chyawanprash – Contains certain tannins and omega-6 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and protect hair [72] Berberine (with meals) [73] Fo-Ti [74] Black pepper – contains piperine, which has been shown to inhibit androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone [75] Andrographis [76]

labs.selfdecode.com - 14 Effects of DHT + How to Increase & Decrease It - SelfDecode Labs

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