7-Keto DHEA

Orally, 7-keto-DHEA is used to increase metabolism and thermogenesis to promote weight loss, to improve lean body mass and build muscle, to increase activity of the thyroid gland and immune system, to boost memory, and to reduce aging.

Obesity.

There is preliminary evidence that 7-keto-DHEA might significantly decrease body weight and fat composition in obese females. More evidence is needed to rate 7-keto-DHEA for this use.

Mechanism of action

7-keto-DHEA is a metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) which is formed in the body.  Unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted to androgens and estrogens. Oral or topical administration of 7-keto-DHEA does not affect plasma levels of the other steroid hormones. Similarly to DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is rapidly converted to the sulfated form, known as 7-keto-DHEAS, which is the main store of 7-ketoDHEA.
7-keto-DHEA is thought to be beneficial in weight loss by increasing metabolism and thermogenesis. Early evidence in animals suggests 7-keto-DHEA can increase thermogenesis, possibly by stimulation of thermogenic enzymes in the liver; however this effect has not yet been reported in humans. Clinical evidence suggests 7-keto-DHEA might increase basal metabolism.
In obese patients, 7-keto-DHEA can significantly increase the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) when used over 4 weeks. Other preliminary evidence suggests that 7-keto-DHEA improves chemically-induced and age-related memory impairment. 7-keto-DHEA may have immunomodulatory effects by stimulating interleukin-2 production by human lymphocytes in vitro.
After oral administration, 7-keto-DHEA is not found in blood. It is rapidly converted to 7-keto-DHEAS, the primary form in which it is found. The half-life of 7-keto-DHEAS is about 2.17 hours, the time to peak plasma levels is about 2.2 hours.