Steroid hormones are powerful substances, and they can cause harm as well as benefit. Pregnenolone is one of the steroids naturally found in animal tissues, especially in the gonads, adrenal gland and brain. It is synthesized from cholesterol and is a precursor for the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. Supplemental Pregnenolone has putative memory-enhancing activity. It may have some efficacy as a memory enhancer. There are unsubstantiated claims that Pregnenolone is useful in Alzheimer's disease, some forms of cancer and arthritis, in degenerative diseases associated with aging in general and in obesity. The body manufactures it from cholesterol, and then uses it to make testosterone, cortisone, progesterone , estrogen, DHEA , androstenedione , aldosterone, and all other hormones in the "steroid" family. Supplemental Pregnenolone is made synthetically in a chemical laboratory from substances found in soybeans.
Pregnenolone initiates the memory storage process by stimulating the enzyme adenylate cyciase, which is needed to regulate and activate other critical enzymes required for cellular energy. It then regulates the timed-sequential flow of calcium ions through the cell. Calcium ion exchange has great formational content and may determine how memory is encoded by neurons. It modulates chemical reactions, calcium-protein bindings, gene activation, protein turnover, and the intra-cellular distribution of compounds and enzyme reactions involved in the storage and retrieval of memory. In so doing, it increases the feeling of well-being and improves mood; reducing depression and the damaging effects of stress. It is the precursor hormone from which other hormones- DHEA, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone are made. It has been used successfully in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases.
References:
PDR Health. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/pre_0211.shtml
Health Library. http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=8482e079-8512-47c2-960c-a403c77a5e4c&chunkiid=21848
http://www.health-n-energy.com/pregneno.htm
