Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone is a steroid hormone produced primarily from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, gonads, and brain. It serves as a precursor to many other steroid hormones, including DHEA, progesterone, cortisol, testosterone, and estrogens (often called the "mother hormone"). Levels tend to decline with age. It also has direct effects in the brain as a neurosteroid, influencing mood and cognition. Low levels may reflect adrenal fatigue or aging, but optimal levels are not well established.