What dht does and what supplements increase it

[braydenpeters2628]

So basically, understanding dihydrotestosterone (DHT) takes you on a whole damn journey — from baby-in-the-womb vibes to old-man-prostate problems. Doctors can literally follow this one hormone through every awkward life stage. DHT is super important in dudes until puberty, and then afterwards it lowkey becomes a menace responsible for a bunch of health issues. So yeah, this hormone is doing double duty: hero in basic science, villain in real life medicine.



This whole thing is about breaking down:

• the biochemistry (science sh*t),

• what DHT does at different ages,

• and how it messes people up medically.



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Fundamentals (aka the squad)



Androgens are steroid hormones, and the main homies are:

• DHEA

• androstenedione

• testosterone

• and the final boss: DHT



DHT is the most powerful one — like testosterone’s cracked-out cousin. It can’t even turn into estrogen, so it’s a pure androgen. Testosterone gets converted into DHT by this enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase (cool name, scary power).



DHT is mostly made in specific tissues, so it works locally — kind of like a neighborhood bully. Not much of it is floating around in your blood because it’s doing its dirty work behind the scenes.



What does it do?

• Builds male genitals in the womb

• Grows your prostate

• Makes your skin oily

• Gives you facial/body hair

• And… causes male pattern baldness (thanks a lot, bro)



For women?

DHT is basically irrelevant. Even when it’s missing, their bodies are like “meh, we’re fine.”



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Issues of Concern (aka when sh*t goes wrong)



Too much DHT? Problems.

Too little DHT? Also problems.



Especially for guys, because it messes with genital development. If something goes wrong before birth, it can snowball and only show up when puberty hits. Which is brutal.



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Molecular Level (science but make it spicy)



Everything starts with cholesterol (yeah, the thing your mom told you to avoid).

Cholesterol → testosterone → DHT



The conversion uses NADPH (don’t ask, it’s chemistry sorcery).

There are 3 versions of the enzyme, but type 2 is the MVP.



There’s also this wild “backdoor pathway” where the body just skips steps and still makes DHT like “I don’t need your rules.”



This backdoor method shows up in:

• congenital adrenal hyperplasia

• virilized newborns

• PCOS



Basically, the body finds a way. Always.



DHT binds HARD to androgen receptors — way stronger than testosterone. It sticks around longer too. That’s why it’s so damn powerful.



Eventually, the liver breaks it down and you pee it out. Nature’s detox.



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Childhood

• Hormones spike briefly after birth (mini puberty lol)

• Chill out until age ~6

• Then adrenarche hits and kids get:

• body odor

• acne

• early hair



Puberty

• Testosterone skyrockets

• Converts to DHT

• Grows:

• genitals

• facial hair

• body hair

• prostate



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Mechanism (how it actually works)



DHT slips into cells like it owns the place, binds to androgen receptors, and then storms into the nucleus to mess with gene expression. Basically flipping genetic switches.



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Testing



Doctors use DHT levels to diagnose:

• enzyme deficiencies

• baldness (kinda controversial)



But blood levels don’t always match what’s happening in tissues, so it’s messy.



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Clinical significance (aka the horror stories)



5-alpha-reductase deficiency

• Genitals underdeveloped

• Testes don’t drop

• Puberty still hits hard though

• Voice deepens

• Muscle grows

• Penis enlarges

• But facial hair? Mid.

• Prostate? Still tiny.



Androgen deficiency

• Usually treated with testosterone

• DHT can be used too





5-alpha-reductase inhibitors

• Finasteride, dutasteride

• Used for:

• hair loss

• BPH

• prostate cancer

• Downside?

• lower libido

• sexual dysfunction

• depression for some



PCOS

• Backdoor DHT pathway more active

• Causes weight gain, fat storage, cholesterol issues

• Still doesn’t magically grow penises in women (science checked)



ZINC



How it boosts testosterone/DHT

• Zinc is literally required to make testosterone. No zinc = your balls are on strike.

• Stops testosterone from getting snitched on and converted into estrogen (traitor shit).

• Keeps your Leydig cells (aka the testosterone factories in your nuts) actually working.



What it does

• Hornier than usual (you’re welcome)

• Better swimmers (sperm upgrade)

• Stronger immune system so you don’t get sick like a bitch

• Low zinc = low T = sad boy energy



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VITAMIN D



How it boosts testosterone/DHT

• This isn’t even a vitamin, it’s basically a hormone in disguise

• Tells your testes to produce more testosterone

• Makes your androgen receptors more sensitive (so DHT hits harder )



What it does

• Better mood (less existential dread)

• Stronger bones so you don’t snap like a twig

• More energy

• Better muscle function = better pumps



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MAGNESIUM



How it boosts testosterone/DHT

• Lowers SHBG (the protein that kidnaps your testosterone)

• = more FREE testosterone running wild

• Improves sleep → your hormones actually get released properly



What it does

• Knock-you-out sleep

• Less stress

• Faster recovery

• Calms your cracked nervous system



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ASHWAGANDHA



How it boosts testosterone

• Nukes cortisol (stress hormone)

• High cortisol = testosterone gets bullied

• Also makes your sperm better (fertility buff)



What it does

• Less anxiety

• Better sleep

• More strength

• Chill mood instead of crash-outs



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TONGKAT ALI



How it boosts testosterone

• Frees up bound testosterone

• Slightly lowers estrogen (W)

• Boosts LH (the hormone that tells your balls to get to work)



What it does

• Higher libido (you’re texting her back)

• More energy

• Better gym performance

• Slight fat loss



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DIET (NOT A SUPPLEMENT BUT DON’T BE DUMB)



How it boosts hormones

• Cholesterol = raw material for testosterone (yes, you need fats)

• Healthy fats = hormone production

• Protein = muscle + hormone support



What it does

• More muscle

• Stable energy

• Better metabolism

• You stop feeling like garbage



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BEHAVIORS THAT BOOST DHT & T



Lifting heavy

• Signals your body to make more testosterone

• Makes androgen receptors more sensitive → DHT hits harder



Sleeping 8+ hours

• Testosterone peaks during deep sleep

• Bad sleep = hormonal dumpster fire



Sun exposure

• Raises vitamin D

• Fixes your circadian rhythm



Low body fat

• Less testosterone turns into estrogen

• Sharper jaw, better definition, less soy-face



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QUICK DHT NERD SHIT (BUT FUN)

• DHT = testosterone’s final boss form

• Your body turns T → DHT using 5-alpha-reductase

• DHT binds to androgen receptors 2x stronger and sticks around longer

→ basically steroids but natural

• It’s responsible for:

• facial hair

• deeper voice

• dick development

• body hair

• also… baldness (unfortunately )



So yeah:

DHT = chad hormone

But too much = shiny head and prostate problems later