🔻 Pregnenolone Deficiency
When pregnenolone is too low, the body may struggle to produce sufficient downstream hormones like cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, and estrogens.
1. Adrenal Insufficiency / Addison’s Disease
- Pregnenolone is produced in the adrenal glands.
- In adrenal disorders, low pregnenolone can contribute to low cortisol, fatigue, and low blood pressure.
2. Hormonal Imbalances
- Symptoms may include:
- Low libido
- Irregular menstruation
- Infertility
- Menopausal symptoms
3. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Some theories suggest low pregnenolone may contribute to energy depletion and poor stress adaptation.
4. Depression & Mood Disorders
- As a neurosteroid, low pregnenolone may contribute to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Poor stress tolerance
5. Cognitive Decline / Alzheimer’s Disease
- Decreased brain pregnenolone may impair memory, learning, and protectiveness against neurodegeneration.
6. Fibromyalgia
- Some patients show low pregnenolone/DHEA; possibly linked to pain processing and fatigue.
🔺 Pregnenolone Excess (Rare, Often Supplement-Induced)
Too much pregnenolone (usually from supplementation) can lead to hormone imbalances or overstimulation of certain pathways.
Possible effects:
- Irritability, insomnia
- Hormonal acne
- Excess estrogen or testosterone symptoms
- Anxiety, due to excess stimulation of excitatory brain pathways
⚠️ Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
- In certain enzyme deficiencies (e.g., 21-hydroxylase), pregnenolone is produced but cannot be converted properly, leading to hormone imbalances, virilization, or salt-wasting crises.
📉 Conditions Linked to Age-Related Decline in Pregnenolone
- Menopause / Andropause
- Age-related cognitive decline
- Osteoporosis
Reduced muscle mass and energy