Pregnenolone: Benefits and Risks

Pregnenolone is a hormone with an important role in producing many other hormones, like testosterone and progesterone, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Your body generally makes enough pregnenolone to meet your needs. However, as is the case with many hormones, your levels tend to decline with age, according to MedlinePlus.

Some people choose to supplement this essential hormone, either by prescription or over the counter, to treat a variety of conditions.

Taking this hormone is not without risk, though. A doctor should supervise supplementation to make sure it’s safe for you.

How Does Your Body Make Pregnenolone?

Your body mainly produces pregnenolone from cholesterol, according to the NIH. This synthesis occurs in several key locations within the body, including the adrenal glands, gonads (testes and ovaries), brain, kidneys, and liver.

Once produced, pregnenolone is transported throughout the bloodstream to support various cellular functions.

The Role of Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone’s main function is to act as a precursor hormone, says the NIH, meaning it is the first hormone in a cascade of reactions that leads to the production of nearly all other steroid hormones, including:

• Progesterone Important for reproductive health.
• Androgens (e.g., Testosterone) Affect muscle, bone, and libido.
• Estrogens (e.g., Estradiol) Crucial for reproductive and bone health.
• Corticosteroids (e.g., Cortisol) Involved in stress response, metabolism, and inflammation.

By being converted into these hormones, pregnenolone indirectly supports a wide range of bodily functions.

Who Should Take Pregnenolone?

Pregnenolone is a subject of ongoing scientific research. Studies are investigating its potential involvement in various medical conditions, including:

• Cognitive disorders
• Major depressive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Adrenal insufficiency (when your body doesn’t produce enough cortisol)
• Other psychiatric and neurological conditions

Researchers are also exploring it in clinical trials as treatments for conditions such as menopausal depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, and alcohol use disorder, says the NIH, but research is not substantial.

Pregnenolone as a dietary supplement is often marketed for improved memory, mental energy, mental clarity, and even physical energy. However, more evidence is needed to support these purported effects.

Risks of Taking Pregnenolone

Your endocrine system helps your body maintain a delicate hormonal balance. Too little or too much hormone can have adverse health effects, according to Cleveland Clinic. Taking pregnenolone in the absence of a clinical deficiency may disturb your endocrine function.

Pregnenolone may also interact with other drugs. For example, it can decrease the effectiveness of a sedative drug class known as benzodiazepine, which includes Valium and Xanax.

Additionally, the effects of long-term pregnenolone supplementation are not well understood, so there is an inherent risk in taking the hormone regularly.

In general, it’s important to speak with your doctor before taking any supplements.