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PregnenoloneEvidence & Dosage

Hormone precursor, memory, steroid cascade and safety.

Studies last updated

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
1,000
With abstract
50
Meta / Systematic / RCT
61
Highly cited
50
Publication years
1970–2026

Pregnenolone in the context of Hormones

This topic is part of our "Hormones" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

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Top studies on Pregnenolone

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Effects of antidepressant treatment on neuroactive steroids in major depression.

    Am J Psychiatry1998Clinical Trial121 influential citations

    <h4>Objective</h4>There is evidence from animal studies that fluoxetine may enhance the concentrations of neuroactive steroids. Therefore, the authors investigated whether clinically effective treatment with antidepressants may alter the…

  2. Molecular basis of neurosteroid and anticonvulsant regulation of TRPM3.

    Nature structural & molecular biology2025E88 influential citations

    Transient receptor potential channel subfamily M member 3 (TRPM3) is a Ca2+-permeable cation channel activated by the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate (PregS) or heat, serving as a nociceptor in the peripheral sensory system. Recent…

  3. Sulfated and unsulfated steroids modulate gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor function through distinct sites.

    Brain research199986 influential citations

    Sulfated and unsulfated neurosteroids such as pregnenolone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), pregnanolone, and allopregnanolone, modulate ionotropic amino acid neurotransmitter receptors, and may function as endogenous…

  4. 5α-Reductase Inhibition Prevents the Luteal Phase Increase in Plasma Allopregnanolone Levels and Mitigates Symptoms in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

    Neuropsychopharmacology2016n=32RCT59 influential citations

    Changes in neurosteroid levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle may precipitate affective symptoms. To test this hypothesis, we stabilized neurosteroid levels by administering the 5α-reductase inhibitor dutasteride to block…

  5. Pregnenolone effects on provoked alcohol craving, anxiety, HPA axis, and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

    Psychopharmacology (Berl)2023n=43RCT54 influential citations

    <h4>Rationale</h4>Chronic alcohol intake down-regulates GABAergic transmission and reduces levels of neuroactive steroids. These changes are associated with greater stress dysregulation and high alcohol craving which in turn increases…

  6. Identification of gut bacteria reductases that biotransform steroid hormones.

    Nature communications2025E53 influential citations

    The metabolism of steroid hormones by the gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key factor in human health; however, the specific enzymes mediating these transformations remain largely unidentified. In this study, we identify…

  7. Promiscuous CYP87A enzyme activity initiates cardenolide biosynthesis in plants.

    Nature plants2023n=4E52 influential citations

    Cardenolides are specialized, steroidal metabolites produced in a wide array of plant families1,2. Cardenolides play protective roles in plants, but these molecules, including digoxin from foxglove (Digitalis spp.), are better known for…

  8. Serum progesterone is lower in ovarian stimulation with highly purified HMG compared to recombinant FSH owing to a different regulation of follicular steroidogenesis: a randomized controlled trial.

    Hum Reprod2024n=112RCT51 influential citations

    <h4>Study question</h4>Does ovarian stimulation with highly purified (hp)-HMG protect from elevated progesterone in the follicular phase compared to recombinant FSH (r-FSH) cycles through a different regulation of follicular…

  9. Proof-of-concept trial with the neurosteroid pregnenolone targeting cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

    Neuropsychopharmacology2009n=21RCT49 influential citations

    The neurosteroid pregnenolone and its sulfated derivative enhance learning and memory in rodents. Pregnenolone sulfate also positively modulates NMDA receptors and could thus ameliorate hypothesized NMDA receptor hypofunction in…

  10. The multistep oxidation of cholesterol to pregnenolone by human cytochrome P450 11A1 is highly processive.

    The Journal of biological chemistry2024E45 influential citations

    Cytochrome P450 (P450, CYP) 11A1 is the classical cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) that removes six carbons of the side chain, the first and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of all mammalian steroids. The reaction is a…

Frequently asked

Are there safety considerations for Pregnenolone?
• Not reported in the abstract. • No adverse events were reported in the abstract. • Pregnenolone was well tolerated. • No specific adverse events were reported in the abstract.

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