Pregnenolone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is the direct precursor to DHEA. Experts feel that pregnenolone enhances DHEA's activity and offers benefits that DHEA does not. DHEA may convert to estrogen and testosterone, but pregnenolone can convert directly to progesterone. * Research has shown that pregnenolone also produces other hormones in the body which may improve our resistance to stress and adrenal exhaustion. *