Pregnenolone is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol. It is produced from the gonads, adrenal glands and the brain where it can be found in higher levels, compared to the blood.
Essentially, pregnenolone is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that may help boost cognitive functions such as memory and learning, and to suppress depressive disorders.
Pregnenolone is considered the grandmother, or root, of all other hormones, including:
•Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) — This hormone produces testosterone in men and estrogen in women. Both DHEA and pregnenolone provide beneficial effects to the central nervous system, and known to help boost glucocorticoid levels, which is necessary to help reduce the risk of depression. Pregnenolone levels are high in the morning and low at night, just as cortisol.
•Progesterone — Also known as the pregnancy hormone, progesterone is essential in female reproductive functions such as menstrual cycle, implantation and pregnancy. It is the precursor to allopregnanolone, a hormone linked to mood swings in teenagers, and negative mood symptoms in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Pregnenolone Benefits
Pregnenolone benefits the brain by helping regulate the process wherein myelin sheath forms around a nerve, allowing it to move quickly, which results in a healthy nervous system.
Bipolar disorder depression — When used as add-on therapy, pregnenolone may help minimize the symptoms of depression caused by bipolar disorder.
Rheumatoid arthritis— A study involving people with rheumatoid arthritis found that taking daily doses of pregnenolone may help reduce the symptoms of this autoimmune disease, and possibly increase muscle strength, with a gradual decline in joint swelling also.
Wrinkles — When combined with acetate cream, 0.5 percent pregnenolone may help hydrate the skin, resulting in diminished wrinkles.
Pregnenolone may also deliver benefits against chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, ulcerative colitis (digestive tract ulcers and inflammation) and inflammatory bowel disorders. Improve blood circulation
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a condition when you lack enzymes that produce hormones, affecting your adrenal glands. This condition may be inherited, and it may also be associated with other health conditions. Adrenal fatigue can lead to reduced pregnenolone production, resulting in poor memory, confusion and brain fog.
To be able to determine your pregnenolone level and monitor this condition, a pregnenolone blood test must be performed. This test will detect your level to identify which enzyme is lacking. If a high pregnenolone level is observed, you may have an enzyme deficiency that hinders your body from producing hormones.