{{Short description|Class of chemical compounds}}
A '''prehormone''' is a biochemical substance secreted by glandular tissue and has minimal or no significant biological activity, but it is converted in peripheral tissues into an active hormone. Calcifediol is an example of a prehormone which is produced by hydroxylation of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> (cholecalciferol) in the liver.<ref>{{Citation |last=Dabek |first=Jan T. |title=Chapter 47 The prehormone vitamin D |date=1997-01-01 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569258297801080 |work=Principles of Medical Biology |volume=8 |pages=933–949 |editor-last=Bittar |editor-first=E. Edward |series=Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology |publisher=Elsevier |language=en |doi=10.1016/s1569-2582(97)80108-0 |isbn=9781559388139 |access-date=2022-09-16 |editor2-last=Bittar |editor2-first=Neville|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Another example is adrenal androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, which can be converted into testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.<ref name="pmid20541662">{{cite book | vauthors = Labrie F | chapter = DHEA, Important Source of Sex Steroids in Men and Even More in Women | title = Neuroendocrinology - Pathological Situations and Diseases | journal = Prog Brain Res | series = Progress in Brain Research | volume = 182 | issue = | pages = 97–148 | date = 2010 | pmid = 20541662 | doi = 10.1016/S0079-6123(10)82004-7 | isbn = 9780444536167 | chapter-url = }}</ref>
==See also== * Prohormone
== References == {{Reflist}} Category:Hormones
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