DHEA

Status

Dietary supplement (US). No FDA-approved labeling exists for oral DHEA, which is sold as a dietary supplement and is therefore not reviewed for efficacy. A separate intravaginal formulation, prasterone, holds FDA approval as Intrarosa for moderate to severe dyspareunia due to menopause.

What it is

An adrenal hormone precursor sold as a supplement in the United States.

What published research measured

An adrenal steroid that serves as a precursor to both androgens and oestrogens, sold in the United States as a dietary supplement. Its trials have mostly reported small or inconsistent effects. Randomized trials in older adults, including a well-conducted Mayo Clinic study, found no meaningful improvement in body composition, strength or quality of life. Where evidence is stronger is narrower: replacement in documented adrenal insufficiency, and intravaginal prasterone for postmenopausal dyspareunia, which holds its own approval. Because it converts to testosterone and oestradiol in peripheral tissue, the extent of the hormonal effect varies substantially between individuals and is not predictable from the amount taken. It is prohibited in sport despite its supplement status.

Source

Nair et al. 2006, New England Journal of Medicine — DHEA in elderly men and women · FDA labeling for Intrarosa (prasterone)

Sources

No linked primary source is on file for this entry yet.

Educational use only, never medical advice. No doses.