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Gonadal Hormone Precursors

Meaning

Gonadal hormone precursors are steroid molecules synthesized primarily from cholesterol that serve as the biochemical starting material for the final production of sex hormones in the testes and ovaries. The most prominent clinical examples include DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) and Pregnenolone, which sit upstream in the steroidogenesis pathway. These molecules are not fully active hormones themselves but are metabolized into potent androgens, estrogens, and other neurosteroids. Supplementation with precursors is a clinical strategy aimed at supporting the entire steroidogenic cascade and mitigating age-related hormonal decline.