Pregnenolone Support

Pregnenolone is synthesised from cholesterol in mitochondria and sits at the head of the steroidogenic cascade feeding progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, testosterone and oestrogen. It is also a neurosteroid modulating GABA-A and NMDA receptors. Supplementing an upstream precursor does not let you choose which downstream hormone rises, so effects vary between individuals and are not measurable without testing. Anyone with a hormone-sensitive cancer history should avoid it entirely.

1) Establish whether there is an actual problem — measure DHEA-S, testosterone, oestradiol and morning cortisol before considering precursor supplementation. 2) Address the reversible drivers of low steroidogenesis: chronic energy deficiency, poor sleep, excess alcohol, untreated sleep apnoea and high training load. 3) Ensure adequate cholesterol intake and body fat; very low-fat diets and severe restriction suppress steroid production. 4) Vitamin D, magnesium and zinc sufficiency support normal hormone synthesis. 5) If pregnenolone is used at all, use it under medical supervision with before-and-after hormone testing, at low doses, and for a defined trial period. 6) Avoid entirely in pregnancy, hormone-sensitive cancers and in tested athletes.

• •Adequate energy and dietary fat intake
• •Sleep sufficiency
• •Alcohol reduction
• •Managing training load
• •Stress reduction
• •Correcting vitamin D, zinc and magnesium status