COMPOUND

Compounds / Supplements

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone

Supplements Oral OTC supplement

Endogenous adrenal steroid hormone and biochemical precursor to testosterone and estradiol. Available OTC in the US under DSHEA as a dietary supplement (1994 carve-out: banned in athletic competition by WADA but legal to sell and possess). Marketed for anti-aging, libido, mood, and androgen support in middle-aged and elderly users. Effects in eugonadal young men are modest at best; meaningful in adrenal insufficiency and for vaginal use in postmenopausal women (Intrarosa/prasterone: the only FDA-approved DHEA preparation, vaginal insert for dyspareunia).

At a glance

Half-life
~20 h APPARENT terminal t½ >20h reported by Labrie 2000. This reflects the DHEA/DHEAS interconversion equilibrium, not the true elimination t½ of free DHEA. Free DHEA itself has a much shorter t½ (~1-3h), but back-hydrolysis from the DHEAS pool extends apparent serum DHEA persistence, so the reported figure should not be read as a precise elimination value.
Routes
Oral
Evidence base
3 studies 3 human

Mechanism

Substrate hormone: converted intracellularly via 3β-HSD to androstenedione, then to testosterone (by 17β-HSD) and to estrone/estradiol (by aromatase). Most circulating DHEA exists as the sulfated ester DHEAS (apparent t½ >20h via DHEAS interconversion), which serves as a long-lived reservoir. Steroidogenic tissues (gonads, brain, skin) pull DHEA/DHEAS in and convert locally: the intracrinology model popularized by Labrie. In older women, significant androgenic effect with serum androgens rising above young adult range; men showed no significant T change in placebo-controlled trial. DHEA 75 mg in elderly men produced no improvement in body composition, glucose, or quality of life vs placebo. No direct receptor agonist activity at AR, ER, GR, or PR at physiologic concentrations.

Dosing

Any amounts shown here are reported from published studies only. 3 of 3 catalogued studies involved human subjects. COMPOUND does not publish its own dosing guidance.

Where a study reports an amount, it appears in that study's entry below, attributed to the source.

Published evidence

  1. Human RCT 2006

    DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men

    Nair KS, Rizza RA, O'Brien P, et al. N Engl J Med

    DHEA 75mg in elderly men: NO improvement in body composition, glucose, or quality of life vs placebo. Negative trial. Primary evidence against routine elderly supplementation.

    PMID 17050889

  2. Human RCT 1998

    The effect of six months treatment with a 100 mg daily dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on circulating sex steroids

    Morales AJ, Haubrich RH, Hwang JY, Asakura H, Yen SS Fertil Steril

    6-month placebo-controlled trial, n=16, 100 mg/day DHEA in healthy older adults (mean age 57). Significant androgenic effect in women (serum androgens rose above young adult range); men showed no significant T change. Body composition trended improved.

    PMID 9876338

  3. Human observational 1997

    Physiological changes in dehydroepiandrosterone are not reflected by serum levels of active androgens and estrogens but of their metabolites: intracrinology

    Labrie F, Bélanger A, Cusan L, Candas B J Clin Endocrinol Metab

    PK/safety of 25 and 50mg oral DHEA in elderly subjects; established >20h apparent t½ via DHEAS interconversion model.

    PMID 9253308

Reported side effects

Oily skin / acne
Common Mild · Androgenic conversion. Worse in users prone to androgenic acne; dose-dependent.
Hair loss / scalp thinning
Occasional Moderate · DHT pathway via 5α-reductase. Genetically predisposed users (AGA) at higher risk.
Facial hair growth in women
Common Moderate · Dose-dependent virilization, reported as almost universal in women at higher supplemental amounts.
Voice deepening in women
Rare Serious · Permanent at higher doses with chronic use; discontinue immediately if any voice change noted.
Estrogen-related effects (breast tenderness, gynecomastia at high doses)
Occasional Moderate · Downstream aromatization to estradiol. More common in obese men with high baseline aromatase activity.
Elevated DHT and prostate concern
Unknown Moderate · Theoretical: long-term prostate safety unstudied. Monitor PSA in men >40 on chronic supplementation.
Mood changes (irritability or elevation)
Occasional Mild · Variable: some users report elevation/wellbeing, others irritability.

Interactions

  • Anastrozole Synergy

    AI reduces conversion of DHEA-derived androgens to estradiol; preserves T-pathway conversion. Useful in men where DHEA's E2 elevation is problematic.

  • Finasteride Synergy

    5-AR inhibition reduces DHT conversion from DHEA-derived androgens; mitigates hair loss and theoretical prostate concern.

  • Test Cypionate Redundant

    Exogenous T provides downstream androgen substrate directly; DHEA layer is usually unnecessary on TRT unless DHEAS is independently low.

Storage

Room temperature, dry, original container.