7-Ketodehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto-DHEA,7-oxo-DHEA), also known as 7-oxoprasterone, is a

prohormone A prohormone is a committed precursor of a hormone consisting of peptide hormones synthesized together that has a minimal hormonal effect by itself because of its expression-suppressing structure, often created by protein folding and binding additi ...

produced by metabolism of the

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). 7-oxo-DHEA is even more effective than DHEA for inducing heat production (

thermogenesis Thermogenesis is the process of heat production in organisms. It occurs in all warm-blooded animals, and also in a few species of thermogenic plants such as the Eastern skunk cabbage, the Voodoo lily ('' Sauromatum venosum''), and the giant w ...

). Because

dieting Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated way to decrease, maintain, or increase body weight, or to prevent and treat diseases such as diabetes and obesity. As weight loss depends on calorie intake, different kinds of calorie-red ...

is usually accompanied by reduced

resting metabolic rate Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is whole-body mammal (and other vertebrate) metabolism during a time period of strict and steady ''resting conditions'' that are defined by a combination of assumptions of physiological homeostasis and biological equili ...

, obese persons may benefit from using 7-oxo-DHEA when dieting due to increased metabolic rate. 7-Keto-DHEA is not directly converted to

testosterone Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristi ...

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...

, and has thus been investigated as a potentially more useful relative of DHEA. Researchers have raised concern that supplements may trigger positive tests for

performance-enhancing drug Performance-enhancing substances, also known as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. A well-known example of cheating in sports involves doping in sport, where bann ...

s. The

World Anti-Doping Agency The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA; french: Agence mondiale antidopage, AMA) is a foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee based in Canada to promote, coordinate, and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. The agency's key ...

lists 7-keto-DHEA as a prohibited anabolic agent. The FDA has proposed that it be banned from use in compounded drugs.

Chemistry

7-Keto-DHEA has a number of chemical names, including: * 7-Ketodehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto-DHEA) * 7-Oxodehydroepiandrosterone (7-oxo-DHEA) * 7-Ketoprasterone * 7-Oxoprasterone * 3β-Hydroxyandrost-5-ene-7,17-dione * Androst-5-en-3β-ol-7,17-dione For the acetate ester: * 3β-Acetoxyandrost-5-ene-7,17-dione * 7-Oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone acetate (7-oxo-DHEA acetate) * 3-Acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone (3-acetyl-7-oxo-DHEA) * DHEA acetate-7-one * Δ₅-Androstene-3β-acetoxy-7,17-dione Note: "Keto" can be substituted for "oxo" in the above names.

History

7-Keto-DHEA has been marketed by alternative medicine providers as a treatment of

Adrenal fatigue Adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia is a pseudo-scientific term used by alternative medicine providers to suggest that the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate quantities of hormones, primarily cortisol, due to chronic stress o ...

, a

pseudo-scientific Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claim ...

term with no scientific basis.

Regulation

The FDA has proposed that 7-Keto-DHEA be included among substances banned from use in compounded drugs.

References

{{Estrogen receptor modulators Androstanes Estrogens World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substances

Chemistry

History

Regulation

See also

References