Alert to US Physicians: DHEA, Widely Used as an OTC Androgen Supplement, May Exacerbate COVID-19

    December 2020 in “ Endocrine-related Cancer ”
    Jonathan W. Nyce
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    TLDR The over-the-counter supplement DHEA could make COVID-19 worse, especially in diabetics and people with G6PD deficiency.
    The document discusses the potential risks of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), an over-the-counter androgen supplement widely used in the US, in exacerbating COVID-19. DHEA induces the ACE-2 receptor and TMPRS22, key to the virus's entry and infection process, and inhibits glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), making G6PD-deficient cells more susceptible to coronavirus infection. The document suggests that DHEA may contribute to SARS-CoV-2-induced vascular endothelialitis, leading to multi-organ inflammatory reactions, especially in diabetic patients and those with G6PD deficiency. The authors recommend considering the suspension of over-the-counter availability of DHEA unless its safety can be proven in placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials.
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