25–50 mg/day in studies. Being a hormone, ideally under medical supervision.
Small improvement in bone density in older women.
View the study (RCT) →Contradictory results; there is no consensus.
Does not reliably improve mood in healthy people.
⏱ 3 min read
Dehydroepiandrosterone, known in all clinical contexts as DHEA, is the most abundant steroid hormone in human circulation and the raw material from which the body makes androgens (testosterone) and estrogens (estradiol) in various tissues; it is produced mainly in the adrenal cortex and, to a lesser extent, in the gonads, and its plasma levels follow a characteristic curve that peaks around ages 20-25 and then declines steadily until it has lost 80 percent of its youthful value in people over 70.
This age-related decline has fueled for decades the hypothesis that replacing exogenous DHEA could have a "rejuvenating" effect, and that promise has sustained an enormous supplement market, especially in countries where it is sold freely; the clinical reality, however, is considerably more nuanced than advertising suggests, and it is worth unpacking what the evidence actually says before deciding whether it makes sense to supplement it.
In women with documented adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease or panhypopituitarism), supplementation with 25 to 50 milligrams of DHEA per day consistently improves mood, energy, libido, and overall well-being, and it is a recognized clinical indication with good evidence; the effect in people with healthy adrenal glands and age-normal levels is much weaker and hard to predict, which limits its usefulness in the context of "normal aging" in healthy people.
In older women with sexual dysfunction associated with aging, especially vaginal atrophy and low libido, vaginal DHEA (prasterone) has shown clinical efficacy with low systemic risk; in men with hypogonadism, studies with oral DHEA show inconsistent results, and direct testosterone remains the treatment of choice when indicated and under endocrinological supervision.
One of the indications where DHEA has generated the most interest in the last decade is low ovarian reserve in women preparing for assisted reproduction: several observational studies and some small trials suggest modest improvements in the number of eggs retrieved and in pregnancy rates with 75 milligrams per day for several months before the stimulation cycle, although higher-quality randomized trials have shown less spectacular effects than those initially reported.
This specific indication requires specialized medical supervision in assisted reproduction and should never be started on one's own, because DHEA is a hormone with systemic effects on the cycle, the endometrium, and the androgen-estrogen profile, and the optimal dose and duration differ from those of general "anti-aging" use.
DHEA has typical androgenic side effects: in women, acne, hirsutism, a deeper voice, and a change in body odor may appear; in men at high doses, estradiol may rise through aromatization with the associated problems (gynecomastia, fluid retention); in both sexes it can alter the lipid profile by lowering HDL, especially with prolonged use and unmonitored doses.
It is formally contraindicated in hormone-dependent cancers (breast, prostate, ovarian) and in people with a significant family history of these cancers, because DHEA can be converted peripherally into estradiol or testosterone and fuel hormone-sensitive tumors; it is also banned in sport because it is considered a doping substance by practically all federations.
If using DHEA is being considered, the most reasonable approach is: first measure the serum level (DHEA-sulfate) to assess whether it is really low relative to the age- and sex-adjusted range, use low doses (25 mg per day in women, 25-50 mg in men), and monitor at 3 months both the clinical response and plasma levels to avoid supraphysiological levels; ideally, all under medical follow-up, especially in older people, in whom hormonal balance is more delicate.
DHEA is not just "another" supplement that can be added thoughtlessly to the daily cocktail: it is a hormone with important systemic effects, and although its short-term, low-dose safety profile is reasonably good, there is no sense in taking it without a clear clinical goal and without measuring levels that justify supplementation in each individual case.
Information, not medical advice. Scientific evidence reflects the quality of the studies.