DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone · Adrenal prohormone
What it is
A hormone your adrenal glands make that serves as a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen. Levels decline steeply with age, which drives its marketing as an "anti-aging" hormone. Sold over the counter in the US as a supplement.
What human evidence shows
Extensively studied with underwhelming results: meta-analyses in older adults show small or no improvements in body composition, strength, or cognition. Exceptions with better support: adrenal insufficiency (medical use) and some evidence in women for libido and bone density. In young healthy people, trials show little beyond a testosterone bump too small to matter.
Risks
It converts to androgens AND estrogens unpredictably per person — acne, hair changes, and hormonal side effects occur. Long-term safety of chronic supplementation is not established; hormone-sensitive cancer history is a hard contraindication flagged in the literature.
Legal status
US: legal OTC supplement (a specific DSHEA carve-out). Banned in most elite sport (WADA). Prescription-only in Canada, UK, Australia.
Evidence base
established literature
Large human evidence base: several phase 3 or 4 trial reports, plus multiple meta-analyses or systematic reviews.
- phase 3/4
- 20
- randomised
- 432
- reviews
- 122
- human trials
- 648
Counts are of published papers, not distinct trials, and measure how much research exists — not whether this works or is safe for you.
Research (12)
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): Pharmacological Effects and Potential Therapeutic ApplicationMini Rev Med Chem · 2023
- DHEA in bone: the role in osteoporosis and fracture healingArch Osteoporos · 2020
- DHEA and mortality: what is the nature of the association?J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · 2015
- DHEA Modulates Immune Function: A Review of EvidenceVitam Horm · 2018
- DHEA, physical exercise and dopingJ Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · 2015
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in relation to breast cancerVitam Horm · 2025
- DHEA and DHEA-S: a reviewJ Clin Pharmacol · 1999
- The Immunoregulatory Actions of DHEA in Tuberculosis, A Tool for Therapeutic Intervention?Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2022
- DHEA and cognitive function in the elderlyJ Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · 2015
- DHEA - a precursor of ERβ ligandsJ Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · 2015
- DHEA in Prenatal and Postnatal Life: Implications for Brain and BehaviorVitam Horm · 2018
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a tool for conservationEnviron Monit Assess · 2026
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