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Metabolism
Prasterone is also reversibly transformed into its active metabolite prasterone sulfate (DHEA-S) by steroid sulfotransferase (specifically SULT1E1 and SULT2A1), which in turn can be converted back into prasterone by steroid sulfatase. Interconversion takes place in both adrenal and peripheral tissues.It is transformed into androstenedione by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), and into androstenediol by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). Then, androstenedione and androstenediol can be converted into testosterone by 17β-HSD and 3β-HSD, respectively. Subsequently, testosterone can be metabolized into dihydrotestosterone by 5α-reductase.In addition, androstenedione and testosterone can be converted into estrone and estradiol by aromatase, respectively. Dose-response of hormone levels
At a high dosage of 1,600 mg/day orally for 4 weeks, treatment of postmenopausal women with prasterone has been found to increase serum levels of DHEA by 15-fold, testosterone by 9-fold, DHEA-S, androstenedione, and DHT all by 20-fold, and estrone and estradiol both by 2-fold.Although prasterone can reliably increase testosterone levels in women, this isnt similarly the case in men. A high dosage of 1,600 mg/day prasterone in men for 4 weeks was found to increase DHEA and androstenedione levels but did not significantly affect testosterone levels. Dosing
In clinical studies of prasterone supplementation, dosages have ranged from 20 to 1,600 mg per day.In people with adrenal insufficiency, oral dosages of 20 to 50 mg/day prasterone have been found to restore DHEA and DHEA-S levels to physiological levels seen in young healthy adults.