Depression Responds to Over-the-counter Supplement
February 8, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It’s not as good as prescription drugs to treat depression, but the over-the-counter hormone supplement DHEA may still prove beneficial for many people who develop depression in midlife.
That’s the key finding from researchers who studied the supplement in 23 men and 23 women who first became depressed between the ages of 45 and 65. The investigators decided to study DHEA, which is found naturally in the body, because previous studies have suggested it has an antidepressive effect. Research also shows DHEA levels tend to drop as people age.
In the current study, all the participants spent six weeks on the supplement and then another six weeks on a placebo pill. All were evaluated for depression using a standard depression test before the study started and then again three weeks and six weeks into each study period. After treatment with DHEA, 23 of the subjects scored at least 50 percent better on the standard test for depression compared to just 13 after treatment with the placebo. Sexual functioning also improved among the subjects when they took DHEA.
Since some people with depression fail to respond to standard medications, the authors believe DHEA may provide a second line of treatment for this debilitating condition. They conclude, “We find DHEA to be an effective treatment for midlife-onset major and minor depression.”
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005;62:154-162
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