Pregnenolone sits at the top of the steroid hormone synthesis cascade. Cholesterol → pregnenolone (via CYP11A1/P450scc enzyme on mitochondrial inner membrane) → then it branches into THREE pathways: (1) mineralocorticoids (aldosterone, salt/water balance); (2) glucocorticoids (cortisol, stress response); (3) sex hormones (via DHEA → androstenedione → testosterone/estrogen; or via progesterone → cortisol). When you supplement pregnenolone, your body's enzymes direct it based on current needs, genetic enzyme expression, and hormonal feedback, making the outcome highly individual. Additionally, pregnenolone itself is a neurosteroid that modulates GABA-A receptors (enhancing or inhibiting depending on metabolites) and NMDA receptors.
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.