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Pregnenolone Steal

Meaning

Pregnenolone Steal, or the Pregnenolone Shunt, is a theoretical, non-pathological concept within the steroidogenesis pathway describing the preferential diversion of the precursor hormone pregnenolone toward the production of cortisol, often at the expense of sex hormones like DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen. This diversion is postulated to occur primarily under conditions of chronic psychological or physiological stress, which mandates a sustained, high output of the stress hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands. It represents a physiological trade-off where survival takes precedence over reproductive and anabolic functions.