DHT (DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE)  - "The Potent Androgen"

DHT has three times greater affinity to bind to androgen receptors than TESTOSTERONE - and 15-30 times greater affinity than adrenal androgens.

Principles of Orthomolecularism by R. A. S. Hemat. Urotext, 2003

DHT is responsible for:

-   Development of male primary sex characteristics during embryo formation - gonads and accessory structures responsible for reproduction;

-   Development of secondary sex characteristics in men at puberty - E.g. Deepened voice and facial hair, muscle mass/strength, bone mass.

-   Adult male sexual function;

-   DHT is the main inhibitor of LH release from the pituitary - and since the pituitary contains 5AR activity to convert TESTOSTERONE to DHT, this keeps DHT production (stimulated by LH) in check

5AR activity affects DHT production

•  Increased 5AR activityincreases DHT production

•  Decreased 5AR activity (e.g. due to drug interactions) decreases DHT production

To find out what substances affect 5AR activity:

5AR

DHT IN MEN

DHT is synthesized mostly by men directly from TESTOSTERONE by 5-alpha reductase (5AR) enzyme, predominately in:

-   Men's Testes (main source), prostate gland, seminal vesicles, epididymis - ~ 5% of TESTOSTERONE in men is converted to DHT.

-   Hair follicles, skin, and sebaceous glands

-   Adrenal glands

Unlike TESTOSTERONE, DHT cannot be converted by the enzyme aromatase to ESTRADIOL

High DHT levels are involved in several common health problems.   Including prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)

Health problems associated with High DHT in Men

DHT IN WOMEN

Women produce smaller amounts of DHT:

Main DHT source for women is ANDROSTENEDIONE.  Which is first converted into TESTOSTERONE by 17-B-H5D enzyme, and then into DHT by 5AR enzyme; however, in women, ANDROSTENEDIONE is normally a source for estrogens, not androgens

-   With lower DHT levels, women normally do not have, for example, facial whiskers, thick skin, male baldness traits, or a deep voice - since women make less androgens than men, and especially since estrogens suppress androgen receptors in the skin, hair follicles and sebaceous glands;

-   Women with unusually high DHT levels may develop certain male secondary sex characteristics.   Including:

•  Acne

•  Hair loss

•  A deepened voice

•   Hirsutism (facial hair and excessive hair growth in areas where females do not typically grow hair)

•  Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

Health problems associated with High DHT in Women

References

Principles of Orthomolecularism By R. A. S. Hemat, Urotext, 2003