Abstract
Diabetes is treated by orally administering a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) compound selected from the group consisting of DHEA, DHEA sulfate and soluble DHEA compounds. The DHEA compound is preferably administered in finely dispersed form, powdered or solution, mixed with the food diet of the diabetic in a dosage range of up to 0.4% by weight of the food diet. The pharmacological activity and utility of DHEA as a potent anti-diabetic agent and anti-hyperglycemic agent over a variable range of genetic background is documented.
Patent number: 4518595
Filing date: Jul 19, 1983
Issue date: May 21, 1985
Inventors: Douglas L. Coleman, Norman Applezweig, Edward H. Leiter
Assignee: The Jackson Laboratory
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for treating diabetes and enhancing the pancreatic beta cell function of diabetics comprising administering a DHEA compound selected from the group consisting of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and soluble compounds of DHEA.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising orally administering said DHEA compound in finely dispersed form.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of preparing said DHEA compound by dissolving the DHEA compound in a DHEA compound solvent thereby forming a DHEA compound solution.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of mixing the DHEA compound solution with the food diet of the diabetic.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of evaporating the DHEA compound solvent from the food diet prior to ingestion by the diabetic.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of orally administering the DHEA compound at a dosage in the range of up to 0.4% by weight of the food diet of the diabetic.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the dosage of the DHEA compound for administering the DHEA compound at a rate in the range of 120 mg to 480 mg per day per kg body weight of the diabetic.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said soluble DHEA compounds comprise DHEA glucuronide.
9. The method of claim 2 wherein the DHEA compound comprises DHEA sulfate administered by mixing the DHEA sulfate in the drinking water of the diabetic.
10. A method for treating diabetes and for enhancing the pancreatic beta cell function of a diabetic comprising orally administering dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to the diabetic.
11. The method of claim 10 comprising orally administering DHEA in a finely dispersed powdered form.
12. The method of claim 11 comprising orally administering DHEA in a finely dispersed powdered form mixed with the diet of the diabetic.
13. The method claim 12 further comprising the step of preparing the DHEA in finely dispersed powdered form by dissolving the DHEA in a DHEA solvent to form a DHEA solution, mixing the solution with the food diet of the diabetic, and substantially completely evaporating the solvent from the food diet of the diabetic before ingestion of the mixture of finely dispersed powdered DHEA and food diet.
14. The method of claim 13 comprising orally administering DHEA in dosages in a range of up to 0.4% by weight of the food diet of the diabetic.
15. The method of claim 12 comprising orally administering DHEA in the dosage range of 0.1% to 0.4% by weight of the food diet of the diabetic.
16. The method of claim 13 comprising dissolving the DHEA in acetone.
17. The method of claim 10 comprising orally administering DHEA in dosages in the range of 120 mg to 480 mg per kg of body weight of the diabetic per day.
18. A method for treating diabetes and for enhancing the pancreatic beta cell function of diabetics comprising:
- preparing a soluble dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) compound in finely dispersed form by dissolving the DHEA compound in a DHEA compound solvent to provide a DHEA compound solution:
- mixing the DHEA compound solution in the food diet of the diabetic in an amount in the dosage range of up to 0.4% by weight of the food diet of the diabetic:
- substantially completely evaporating the DHEA compound solvent from the food diet after mixing and before ingestion of the food diet by the diabetic:
- and adjusting the dosage in the food diet of the diabetic for administering DHEA compound in the range of 120 mg to 480 mg per day per kg body weight of the diabetic.
19. The method of claim 18 comprising continuing said treatment indefinitely.
20. The method of claim 18 comprising commencing said treatment before the blood sugar level of the diabetic exceeds a concentration of 350 mg/dl.