DHEA is a prohormone, meaning that the body
can convert it into several different hormones including
the female hormone estrogen and the male hormone
testosterone. During development, the fetal adrenal
glands produce large amounts of DHEA. After birth,
production drops and remains low during childhood.
As adulthood approaches, the rate of DHEA produc-
tion increases, reaching a peak between ages 25–30.
From age 30 on, the level of DHEA declines steadily
until by age 80, men have only about 10% as much
DHEA in their blood as they did at age 25.
Some researchers, observing the relationship
between aging and decreased levels of DHEA, hypothe-
sized the decrease in DHEA caused age-related prob-
lems such as cardiovascular disease, decreased sexual
function, and dementia. They theorized that aging
could be delayed using dietary supplements to restore
DHEA levels to those of a younger person. This was
only a hypothesis and had not been tested, yet supple-
ment manufacturers grabbed on to the cause and effect
idea and began promoting DHEA as a miracle supple-
ment that could increase longevity and ward off a num-
ber of age-related changes.The researchers tended to be much more cautious.
For one thing, humans and other primates (apes,
monkeys) produce substantial amounts of DHEA,
but common laboratory animals such as rats and
mice produce almost none. Therefore, it is unclear
whether results of testing DHEA in lab animals can
be applied to humans. Some researchers have spoken
out against supplement makers, complaining that
their research has been taken out of context, misrep-
resented, or just plain altered to support the claims of
manufacturers selling DHEA, especially those selling
over the Internet.DHEA’s role in health care
DHEA has two uses accepted by practitioners of
conventional medicine. Under supervision of a physi-
cian, DHEA has been used to successfully treat Addi-
son’s disease. Addison’s disease is the result of adrenal
insufficiency. The adrenal glands do not produce
enough hormones. DHEA supplements simply replace
what the body should be making.
DHEA has also been used by physicians to treat
symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE is a complicated autoimmune disease where the
body attacks and damages its own tissues. It is not
clear why DHEA improves SLE symptoms such as
joint pain and inflammation of the tissue surrounding
the heart, but the majority of clinical trials in humans
support this use.
There is mixed evidence to support two other
claims for DHEA—that it helps with weight loss and
that it relieves depression symptoms. A rigorous study
led by researchers at the Mayo Clinic and published in
2006, found no anti-aging effects in elderly partici-
pants who took DHEA for two years. There were no
measurable improvements in muscle strength, body
fat, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or qual-
ity of life.
DHEA is sold as a dietary supplement in the form
of tablets, capsules, and a liquid injection. Dosages
range from 25–250 mg per day. An independent study
of DHEA supplements found that many supplements
contained amounts DHEA ranging from 0–150% that
were inconsistent with the amount described on the
label.
Dietary supplement manufacturers continue to use
unsubstantiated claims about DHEA that appeal to
individuals searching for the fountain of youth. These
include claims that DHEA improves memory, elimi-
nates or improves symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,
prevents cardiovascular disease, increases bone density,
treats chronic fatigue syndrome, treats cocaineKEY TERMS
Conventional medicine—Mainstream or Western
pharmaceutical-based medicine practiced by med-
ical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and other
licensed health care professionals.
Dietary supplement—A product, such as a vitamin,
mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, that is
intended to be consumed in addition to an individ-
ual’s diet with the expectation that it will improve
health.
Hormone—A chemical messenger produced by
one type of cell and travels through the blood-
stream to change the metabolism of a different
type of cell.
Prohormone—A substance the body can convert
into a hormone.
Steroid—A family of compounds that share a sim-
ilar chemical structure. This family includes estro-
gen and testosterone, vitamin D, cholesterol, and
the drugs cortisone and prendisone.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—A serious
autoimmune disease of connective tissue that
affects mainly women. It can cause joint pain,
rash, and inflammation of organs such as the
kidney.DHEA