Dont mean to hijack the thread. I am 22, I took a 7-keto formula by life extension (ingredients below), on top of my usual stack, as a light fat burner about a year ago. 5 days on with 2 doses per day and then at least 2 days off. The 30 day supply lasted me around 5 months, which shows you how often I took it. But I did notice a fatloss benefit that seemed almost immediate. However, I was unwilling to lengthen the number of days on it because I felt like I was going to mess up my hormone levels. For me, it would be a very nice weightloss product, especially if taken for 30 days. It was certainly much more comfortable on a day to day basis than a stimulant or stimulant based product. However due to the lack of information on the subject (that I could find), especially for my age group, I have not decided to purchase it again. In the long run does something like dhea have the potential to mess up your hormones more than an anti-estrogen like formestane? despite the anabolic difference
Serving size: 1 pill
Vitamin C(as Ascorbyl Palmitate) 10mg 17%
Vitamin E(as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) 25IU 83%
7-Keto® DHEA(3-Acetyl-7-Oxo-Dehydroepiandrosterone) 100mg **
Ascorbyl Palmitate 25mg **
Turmeric Root Extract(Curcuma Longa)[Standardized To 95% Total Curcuminoids (23.7 Mg)] 25mg **
Green Tea Extract, Decaffeinated(Camellia Sinensis)(Leaf)[Std. To Minimum 90% Polyphenols (22.5)] 25mg **
Whole Grape Extract(Vitis Vinifera) And Polygonum Cuspidatum)(Root) Extract [Std. To 35% Resveratrol (1 Mg)]
I do believe 7-keto and 7-oxo DHEA have a place, HOWEVER, I am not convinced you don't have a point in being concerned about the potential for suppression when using it (contrary to folklore that there is no feedback offering)...take the following study for example:
Physiol Res. 2001;50(1):9-18.
[h=1]Effects of transdermal application of 7-oxo-DHEA on the levels of steroid hormones, gonadotropins and lipids in healthy men.[/h]
Sulcová J,
Hill M,
Masek Z,
Ceska R,
Novácek A,
Hampl R,
Stárka L.
[h=3]Source[/h]Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
[email protected]
[h=3]Abstract[/h]The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 7-oxo-DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) on the serum levels of steroid sexual hormones, gonadotropins, lipids and lipoproteins in men. 7-oxo-DHEA was applied onto the skin as a gel to 10 volunteers aged 27 to 72 years for 5 consecutive days. The single dose contained 25 mg 7-oxo-DHEA. Serum concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, androstenedione, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-I and B and lipoprotein(a) were measured before the beginning and shortly after the end of the steroid application. After the treatment, we noted the following significant changes:
a decline of testosterone and estradiol levels, increase of LH, HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels. The decrease of total cholesterol levels was of the borderline significance. A slight but significant increase was found in apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a). The most expressive was the fall of the atherogenic index. We suggest that the gel containing 7-oxo-DHEA might be a suitable drug for improving the composition of the steroid and lipid parameters in elderly men.
PMID:11300231[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Maybe it's just me; but when considering the 7-keto --> 7-oxo cascade, this is eye-opening - like any other exogenous androgen. And the dose is quite small (25mg), the duration was quite short...however, when you get ANY exogenous androgen (any steroidal structure) placed into the equation; I am uncertain what people would otherwise anticipate...but the marketing has done well in convincing people that this won't touch your HPGA. I think it's likely LESS suppressive; but to say non-suppressive, that's likely inaccurate.
The immediate fat loss benefit is likely more of a thyroidal nature when dealind with upstream 7-keto products as opposed to androgen changes. Your taking it in such an inconsistent fashion probably didn't offer much, if any, suppression.
I have taken upwards of 600 mg of 7-keto with VERY minimal changes in test levels; but that again is not to say they are unheard of (as you've seen in the controlled setting above).
D_