Neurosteroid
Pregnenolone
A precursor neurosteroid involved in hormone synthesis and brain function regulation.
KÖGN Health grades Pregnenolone as B (Moderate evidence) and rates it 3.8 out of 5.
Last reviewed · June 2026
Primary effects
- Mood support
- Cognitive function
- Stress regulation
How it works
Influences neurosteroid pathways affecting mood, memory, and cognitive stability.
Overview
Pregnenolone is a precursor to several key hormones and neurosteroids involved in brain function. It has been explored for its potential effects on mood, memory, and stress resilience. However, because it influences hormonal pathways, its use requires caution and an understanding of individual variability. Effects are not consistent across all users.
The evidence
Pregnenolone is a neurosteroid and the body's precursor to other steroid hormones. Its best cognitive evidence is in schizophrenia, where low-dose add-on pregnenolone improved attention, working memory and negative symptoms in randomised trials. There is essentially no good evidence that it enhances cognition in healthy people, and as a hormone precursor it deserves more caution than a typical supplement.
How to dose it
Schizophrenia trials used a wide range (about 30–500 mg/day); over-the-counter supplements are usually far lower. Because it feeds into hormone pathways, 'more' is not safer.
When to take it
Chronic — studied over weeks.
Safety & side effects
Short-term trial use was generally tolerated; long-term safety of supplementation in healthy people is essentially unknown, and effects on downstream hormones are a concern.
Who should avoid it
Avoid if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or cancer (it can convert to oestrogens and androgens), and do not use in pregnancy. Because it is a hormone precursor, discuss it with a clinician rather than self-prescribing.
References
Related ingredients
Graded entries that target the same cognitive goals.
Categories
Draft — the dose, safety and evidence notes on this entry were prepared from the published literature and are pending editorial and clinical review.
Educational information, not medical advice. The evidence grade is KÖGN’s editorial assessment of published research, not a health claim. Speak to a qualified clinician before changing what you take.