DHEA
A hormone precursor sold as anti-aging — rigorous trials disappointed, and it's not a casual supplement.
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What it is
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands that the body converts into testosterone and estrogens. Levels peak in early adulthood and decline with age; supplements are made in a lab.
How it works
DHEA is a building block the body uses to make sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogens. Because levels fall with age, the theory was that topping them back up would restore youthful vigor. Supplementing does raise blood DHEA and downstream hormones — but in well-controlled trials, raising those numbers didn't translate into the hoped-for improvements in healthy older adults.
What it's been studied for
Commonly taken for aging, energy, libido, bone health, and fertility support.
What the evidence shows
Evidence is weak for the popular anti-aging uses: a two-year NEJM trial in older adults found no meaningful benefits on body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life. A Cochrane review in peri- and postmenopausal women found at most a small effect on sexual function, no clear effect on menopausal symptoms, and more androgenic side effects like acne and unwanted hair. Most studies are small and short, and results in specific medical settings (such as adrenal insufficiency or fertility treatment) belong in a specialist's hands.
Who should consider it
The people who might reasonably consider DHEA are those with a specific medical reason — for example, low adrenal function or a fertility specialist's recommendation — under supervision with lab monitoring. People hoping for general anti-aging, energy, or muscle benefits probably shouldn't bother, given the negative trials and real hormonal side effects. Anyone with a hormone-sensitive condition, anyone pregnant, and anyone under 18 should avoid it.
Amounts commonly studied
Studies typically used 25 to 50 mg per day; the two-year NEJM trial used 50 mg per day in women and 75 mg per day in men.
How to take it
Studies typically used 25 to 50 mg per day, usually taken in the morning to mirror the body's natural rhythm, for periods of a few months up to two years. Talk to your provider before starting — baseline and follow-up hormone levels (such as DHEA-S, testosterone, and estradiol) are the responsible way to use it. Stop and check in if you notice acne, hair changes, mood changes, or breast tenderness.
Forms & absorption
Oral capsules and tablets are most common; a vaginal form (prasterone) is a separate prescription product for menopausal vaginal symptoms. Product content can vary, so third-party testing matters more than usual.
Food sources
None — DHEA is made by the body's adrenal glands and isn't obtained from food; supplements are synthesized in a lab.
Safety & interactions
DHEA is a hormone, not a vitamin — it can raise androgen and estrogen levels, causing acne, oily skin, facial hair growth, scalp hair loss, or voice changes in women and breast tenderness in men, and it may lower HDL cholesterol. Avoid it with hormone-sensitive conditions or cancers (breast, prostate, ovarian, uterine), PCOS, liver disease, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and under age 18; it may interact with hormone therapy, testosterone, hormone-blocking cancer drugs, and some psychiatric medications, and mania has been reported in people with mood disorders. Use it only with a provider who checks your hormone levels — and note it's banned in competitive sports.
Myths & what it won't do
Myth: DHEA is a proven fountain-of-youth hormone. Reality: a rigorous two-year trial in older adults found no meaningful benefits on muscle, fat, physical performance, or quality of life. Myth: wild yam supplements are a natural source of DHEA. Reality: the body can't convert wild yam compounds into DHEA — that conversion happens only in a lab.
Common questions
- Will DHEA boost my energy or slow aging?
- Well-run trials in healthy older adults didn't find those benefits. Raising your DHEA level on a lab test isn't the same as feeling or functioning better.
- Is DHEA safe because it's sold over the counter?
- Over-the-counter availability doesn't make it low-risk. It's a hormone that can raise testosterone and estrogen, so it should be used only with a provider who monitors your levels.
- What about DHEA for fertility?
- Some fertility clinics use it for specific patients, but the evidence is mixed and it's a decision for your fertility specialist, not something to start on your own.
The amounts listed here are what published research has used — not a prescription or a recommended dose for you. Confirm anything you plan to take with your own healthcare provider, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.
Related goals
Research on DHEA
Recommendations on this page are informed by published research. This is educational information, not medical advice.
- Nair KS, Rizza RA, O'Brien P, et al. DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(16):1647-1659. View study →Note: Two years of DHEA in older adults raised hormone levels but didn't improve body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life.
- Scheffers CS, Armstrong S, Cantineau AE, Farquhar C, Jordan V. Dehydroepiandrosterone for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(1):CD011066. View study →Note: In peri- and postmenopausal women, DHEA didn't improve quality of life, and androgenic side effects (mainly acne) were more common than with placebo.