Health News
2006-02-03
Supplement may
treat minor depression in HIVers
A new report
suggests DHEA may alleviate the symptoms of minor depression
in HIV-positive patients. DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosteron
A new report
suggests DHEA may alleviate the symptoms of minor depression
in HIV-positive patients. DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone,
is an unregulated steroid-like dietary supplement used
by individuals for a variety of purposes, including to
build muscles, reduce abdominal fat, improve blood
sugar levels, and fight aging.
Judith G. Rabkin
of Columbia University College of Physicians and
Surgeons and colleagues performed an eight-week study
involving 145 HIV-positive adults with mild
depression. Two thirds of the patients had been
diagnosed with AIDS. The subjects were randomly assigned to
take a placebo or DHEA tablets. Dosage began at 100
milligrams per day and was increased to 400 milligrams
per day over four weeks if symptoms did not improve
and there were no side effects.
DHEA patients
showed a higher response rate (56%) than placebo patients
(31%). Men and women responded equally well to DHEA. Blood
levels of DHEA did not differ significantly between
responders and nonresponders. The treatment was
associated with a significant increase in testosterone
levels in women but not in men. DHEA was not found to
significantly affect CD4-cell counts or HIV viral
load. Side effects were relatively uncommon and did
not differ between treatment groups.
"In response to
many requests, we added a four-month extension phase
for patients who responded to DHEA," the authors wrote in
the American Journal of Psychiatry. "Overall, the
results of this intermediate-term eight-month
follow-up suggest that mood response is maintained
with minimal and possibly nonspecific side effects, although
long-term effects remain unknown."
"Based on our
trial and the handful of others in the literature, I
don't think any of us would recommend DHEA as first-line
treatment for depression," Rabkin said. "DHEA is,
however, attractive for patients who refuse to take
antidepressants or for patients with mild chronic
depression who are particularly enthusiastic about
complementary-alternative medicine strategies." (Reuters)
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