Your body naturally produces the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the adrenal gland. In turn, DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Natural DHEA levels peak in early adulthood and then slowly fall as you age.
A synthetic version of DHEA is available for oral use, as a tablet, and a topical cream.
Often touted as an anti-aging therapy, DHEA is also claimed to ward off chronic illness and improve physical performance.
Research on DHEA for specific conditions includes:
Aging. In theory, taking DHEA supplements to maintain DHEA levels could slow the aging process, possibly improving well-being, cognitive function and body composition. But research hasn't proved this to be true.
Depression. DHEA might be more effective at treating depression than placebo.
Osteoporosis. Research suggests DHEA might improve bone mineral density in elderly people with low DHEA. But improvements in bone density were small compared with those seen after treatment with approved osteoporosis medications.
Vaginal atrophy. Limited research suggests that DHEA might improve vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women.
Research on the effects of DHEA on well-being and body composition has had mixed results, and most studies indicate no effect of DHEA on cognitive function or on muscle size or strength. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has banned DHEA use among athletes.
DHEA might eventually prove to have benefits in treating people diagnosed with certain conditions, such as adrenal insufficiency and lupus. However, further studies are needed.
Studies have shown quality control of this supplement to often be low.
While some research suggests that DHEA might be slightly helpful in treating osteoporosis, depression and vaginal atrophy, there's little evidence to support anti-aging claims. Also, DHEA use can cause serious side effects. Avoid using this supplement.
DHEA is a hormone. Use of this supplement might increase levels of androgen and have a steroid effect. DHEA also might increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers, including prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. If you have any form of cancer or are at risk of cancer, don't use DHEA.
Don't use DHEA if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
Consider avoiding use of DHEA if you have high cholesterol or a condition that affects the supply of blood to the heart (ischemic heart disease). DHEA might reduce high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol levels.
Use of DHEA also might worsen psychiatric disorders and increase the risk of mania in people who have mood disorders.
DHEA also might cause oily skin, acne and unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women (hirsutism).
Possible interactions include:
Antipsychotics. Use of DHEA with antipsychotics such as clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo) might reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol). Use of DHEA with this drug used to treat seizures, nerve pain and bipolar disorder might reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Estrogen. Don't use DHEA with estrogen. Combining DHEA and estrogen might cause symptoms of excess estrogen, such as nausea, headache and insomnia.
Lithium. Use of DHEA with lithium might reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Phenothiazines. Use of DHEA with drugs used to treat serious mental and emotional disorders might reduce the effectiveness of the drugs.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Use of DHEA with this type of antidepressant might cause manic symptoms.
Testosterone. Don't use DHEA with testosterone. Combining DHEA and testosterone might cause symptoms such as low sperm count (oligospermia), enlarged breasts in men (gynecomastia) and the development of typically male characteristics in women.
Triazolam (Halcion). Using DHEA with this sedative might cause central nervous system depression, which can affect your breathing rate and heart rate.
Valproic acid (Depakene). Use of DHEA with this anticonvulsant might reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Soure: Mayo Clinic
The biological role of the adrenal sex steroid precursors--DHEA and DHEA sulphate (DS) and their decline with ageing remains undefined. We observed previously that administration of a 50 daily dose of DHEA for 3 months to age-advanced men and women resulted in an elevation (10%) of serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) accompanied by improvement of self-reported physical and psychological well-being. These findings led us to assess the effect of a larger dose (100 mg) of DHEA for a longer duration (6 months) on circulating sex steroids, body composition (DEXA) and muscle strength (MedX).
Healthy non-obese age-advanced (50-65 yrs of age) men (n = 9) and women (n = 10) were randomized into a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial. Sixteen subjects completed the one-year study of six months of placebo and six months of 100 mg oral DHEA daily.
Fasting early morning blood samples were obtained. Serum DHEA, DS, sex steroids, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) levels and lipid profiles as well as body composition (by DEXA) and muscle strength (by MedX testing) were measured at baseline and after each treatment.
Basal serum levels of DHEA, DS, androsternedione (A), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were at or below the lower range of young adult levels. In both sexes, a 100 mg daily dose of DHEA restored serum DHEA levels to those of young adults and serum DS to levels at or slightly above the young adult range. Serum cortisol levels were unaltered, consequently the DS/cortisol ratio was increased to pubertal (10:1) levels. In women, but not in men, serum A, T and DHT were increased to levels above gender-specific young adult ranges. Basal SHBG levels were in the normal range for men and elevated in women, of whom 7 of 8 were on oestrogen replacement therapy. While on DHEA, serum SHBG levels declined with a greater (P < 0.02) response in women (-40 +/- 8%; P = 0.002) than in men (-5 +/- 4%; P = 0.02). Relative to baseline, DHEA administration resulted in an elevation of serum IGF-I levels in men (16 +/- 6%, P = 0.04) and in women (31 +/- 12%, P = 0.02). Serum levels of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 were unaltered but GHBP levels declined in women (28 +/- 6%; P = 0.02) not in men. In men, but not in women, fat body mass decreased 1.0 +/- 0.4 kg (6.1 +/- 2.6%, P = 0.02) and knee muscle strength 15.0 +/- 3.3% (P = 0.02) as well as lumbar back strength 13.9 +/- 5.4% (P = 0.01) increased. In women, but not in men, an increase in total body mass of 1.4 +/- 0.4 kg (2.1 +/- 0.7%; P = 0.02) was noted. Neither gender had changes in basal metabolic rate, bone mineral density, urinary pyridinoline cross-links, fasting insulin, glucose, cortisol levels or lipid profiles. No significant adverse effects were observed.
A daily oral 100 mg dose of DHEA for 6 months resulted in elevation of circulating DHEA and DS concentrations and the DS/cortisol ratio. Biotransformation to potent androgens near and slightly above the range of their younger counterparts occurred in women with no detectable change in men. Given this hormonal milieu, an increase in serum IGF-I levels was observed in both genders but dimorphic responses were evident in fat body mass and muscle strength in favour of men. These differences in response to DHEA administration may reflect a gender specific response to DHEA and/or the presence of confounding factor(s) in women such as oestrogen replacement therapy.
PMID:
9876338
DOI:
10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00507.x
[Indexed for MEDLINE]
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) age-related withdrawal is very likely to be involved in the aging process and the onset of age-related diseases, giving rise to the question of whether preventing or compensating the decline of these steroids may have endocrine and clinical benefits. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the endocrine, neuroendocrine and clinical consequences of a long-term (1 year), low-dose (25 mg/day) replacement therapy in a group of aging men who presented the clinical characteristics of partial androgen deficiency (PADAM). Circulating DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total testosterone and free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, allopregnanolone, estrone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were evaluated monthly to assess the endocrine effects of the therapy, while beta-endorphin values were used as a marker of the neuroendocrine effects. A Kupperman questionnaire was performed to evaluate the subjective symptoms before and after treatment. The results showed a great modification of the endocrine profile; with the exception of cortisol levels, which remained unchanged, DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total and free testosterone, DHT, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, estrone, estradiol, GH, IGF-1 and beta-endorphin levels increased significantly with respect to baseline values, while FSH, LH and SHBG levels showed a significant decrease. The Kupperman score indicated a progressive improvement in mood, fatigue and joint pain. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that 25 mg/day of DHEA is able to cause significant changes in the hormonal profile and clinical symptoms and can counteract the age-related decline of endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. Restoring DHEA levels to young adult values seems to benefit the age-related decline in physiological functions but, however promising, placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these preliminary results.
PMID:
15672938 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and T hormones are advertised as antiaging, antiobesity products. However, the evidence that these hormones have beneficial effects on adipose tissue metabolism is limited.
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of DHEA and T supplementation on systemic lipolysis during a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) and an iv glucose tolerance test (IVGTT).
This was a 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
The study was conducted at a general clinical research center.
Sixty elderly women with low DHEA concentrations and 92 elderly men with low DHEA and bioavailable T concentrations participated in the study.
Elderly women received 50 mg DHEA (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30). Elderly men received 75 mg DHEA (n = 30), 5 mg T (n = 30), or placebo (n = 32).
In vivo measures of systemic lipolysis (palmitate rate of appearance) during a MMTT or IVGTT.
At baseline there was no difference in insulin suppression of lipolysis measured during MMTT and IVGTT between the treatment groups and placebo. For both sexes, a univariate analysis showed no difference in changes in systemic lipolysis during the MMTT or IVGTT in the DHEA group and T group when compared with placebo. There was no change in the results after adjusting for the resting energy expenditure, except for a small, but significant (P = .03) lowering of MMTT nadir palmitate rate of appearance in women who received DHEA.
In elderly individuals with concentrations of DHEA (men and women) or T (men) below the normal range for young adults, supplementation of these hormones has no effect on insulin suppression of systemic lipolysis.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00254371.