Last updated: DHT is commonly associated with pubertal changes and baldness in men. DHT may be beneficial for certain conditions and has other health benefits. Learn more about the risks and benefits of DHT, as well as how to increase/decrease it.
What is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone is a sexhormone that is made from testosterone. It is responsible for the development of masculine characteristics such as body hair, muscle growth and a deep voice.
DHT plays a critical role in the development of the prostate and penis in men. DHT is a stronger hormone than testosterone, and it plays an important role in male-pattern hair loss [1].
A deficiency in enzyme 5-AR causes men to be unable make DHT from testosterone, which can lead to reduced function and development of the reproductive organs [2].
DHT activates androgen receptors necessary for sexual differentiation during fetal growth and during male puberty. It is also required for maintaining a sexual drive in men [3].
DHT, a powerful sex hormone, is similar to testosterone. It enhances men’s masculinity and maintains their sex drive.
9 Possible Side Effects of DHT
1) Blood Sugar Control
DHT can help people with diabetes and high blood sugar [4].
A study in mice found that it could lower blood sugar and aid with type 2 diabetes in men. DHT was found to increase insulin-sensitivity, body fat, and weight in rats when DHEA was administered [5, 6,].
2) Memory
DHT skin patches were shown to improve memory in men between the ages 34 and 70 [7].
3) Sexual Function
DHT can increase sexual ability in men, regardless of age or obesity. It’s important to have healthy sex drives in men, along with testosterone [8, 9].
DHT was helpful for boys with decreased penile function. It is the main hormone that prevents erectile dysfunction from rats [10, 11,].
Low levels of DHT were more common in women who have been abstaining for a long time [12].
DHT is essential for men’s sexual health, libido and erections.
4) Heart Health
Men with coronary heart disease (CAD), who had higher levels of DHT, had lower amounts of fat deposits in their hearts [13].
Lower levels of DHT and testosterone resulted in an increased risk for cardiovascular complications for men undergoing testosterone-lowering treatment for prostate cancer. Higher levels of DHT in older men result in lower rates of heart disease death [14, 15, 16].
5) Strength and Muscle Mass
Muscle DHT levels in women correlate with strength, power, and endurance [16].
DHT was found to increase muscle mass in postmenopausal rats [17].
6) Autoimmune Diseases
Multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoidarthritis are three to 20 times less common in men than they are for other autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’. It could be because male hormones have a protective effect on autoimmune conditions [18-19, 20, 21, 22, 23].
DHT has been shown to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), prostatitis, Graves’, and uveitis. It balances the immune system. It can reduce the number of T helper cells (Th1), which are more common in autoimmune conditions [24, 25, 26, 18, 27, 28,].
Here are some of the effects of sexhormones on your immune system [29]
EstrogensAndrogensOverall: enhanced immune responseOverall: diminished immune responseEnhanced antibody-mediated responses to exogenous antigensDecreased antibody productionEnhanced T-cell cytotoxicityDecreased T-cell proliferationIncreased cytokine and chemokine levels (interferon-gamma production)Alteration of the cytokine profile to decrease inflammation (including decreased interferon-gamma production)Decreased IL-6 productionIncreased IL-6 and IL-10 productionEnhanced antigen-presenting cell activationDecreased MHC class II antigen expression on antigen-presenting cellsStronger innate immune responses by increased nitric oxide productionReduced nitric oxide production7) Healthy Cognitive Function
A decline in cognitive function is associated with lower levels of DHT, and other sexhormones, among older men [30].
8) Anxiety and Depression
The brain’s DHT activity was responsible for the anti-anxiety effects of Testosterone [31].
Finasteride is a drug that lowers blood levels of DHT. It may cause depression symptoms [32].
9) Bone Growth
DHT is essential for bone density. Higher blood levels are associated to higher bone density in men [33].
Other
DHT reduced pain in diabetic rats [34].
High levels of DHT can have negative effects
1) Male Pattern Baldness
One study showed that men who have male pattern baldness had higher levels DHT [35].
Blood samples from prematurely bald men [36] showed higher levels of DHT.
2) Acne
DHT can trigger inflammatory acne [37].
3) Prostate Cancer
DHT is essential for normal prostate development, but it can also cause benign prostate enlargement [38].
DHT can cause prostate cancer, even if the testicles are removed [39, 40].
Conversely, men with lower levels DHT are more likely get prostate cancer and to have advanced forms of the disease. They also have a lower survival rate for prostate carcinoma [41].
DHT is good for the prostate’s development, but too much can cause benign prostate enlargement.
4) Depression in Women
One study found that women with major depression had higher levels DHT than those who were treated with male sex hormones [42].
5) Male-Like Hair Growth In Women
Finasteride is an effective treatment for women with male-like hair loss [43].
There are many ways to increase DHT
Before you make any major lifestyle, diet, and supplement changes, talk to your doctor. Unexpected interactions can occur with many of these changes.
Lifestyle
Nutrients and Foods
Supplements
There are many ways to reduce DHT
Not all studies are in animal models. To avoid unexpected interactions, discuss any changes in your lifestyle, diet, or supplement plan with your doctor.
Drugs
1. 5AR Inhibitors (Finasteride and Dutasteride: They prevent testosterone from being converted into DHT [55].
2. Testosterone (in elderly men) [56]
Supplements
Foods and Nutrients
These products only inhibit DHT’s effects.
Takeaway
DHT, a powerful sexhormone made from testosterone, is created. DHT helps men develop their masculine traits and reproductive organs. DHT can also increase libido, sexual health, and general well-being. DHT is also believed to improve blood sugar control, brain health, cognition, bone strength and immunity.
It is possible to increase your fitness level by working out, losing excess fat and eating healthier dietary fats, such as zinc.
DHT can cause male pattern baldness, depression, hair growth in women and prostate enlargement. Some studies have shown that DHT can be reduced by natural methods such as tea, pumpkin seed oil, nettle root and soybean. Red ginseng and curcumin may be helpful, as well as saw palmetto and curcumin.
