DHEA

DHEA is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It’s a precursor to (i.e., is made into) estrogen and testosterone, and can exert weak benefits on its own. As an “antiaging” or performance enhancing supplement, its benefits are inconsistent.

Quick Answer

What it is

DHEA is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It’s a precursor to (i.e., is made into) estrogen and testosterone, and can exert weak benefits on its own.

Key findings

  • Grade C: Cortisol (General Athletic Performance)
  • Grade C: Blood Flow (Metabolic Health)
  • Grade C: Cognitive Decline (Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI))

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: DHEA

Quick Facts: DHEA

  • Best Evidence:Grade C
  • Conditions Studied:24
  • Research Outcomes:202
  • Key Effect:General Athletic Performance
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C5
D18
24 conditions · 202 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
C
Cortisol
Small Decrease
smallImproves
D
Body Fat
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Free Testosterone
1 study
Improves
?
Functionality in Elderly or Injured
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
1 study
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
3 studies
Improves
?
Body Fat
2 studies
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
1 study
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
1 study
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
Improves
C
Cortisol
Small Decrease
smallImproves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
C
Cognitive Decline
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Bone Mineral Density
No effect
none
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Free Testosterone
1 study
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Cortisol
Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Functionality in Elderly or Injured
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
1 study
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Cortisol
Worsens
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Functionality in Elderly or Injured
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Worsens
?
Weight
1 study
Worsens
D
Blood glucose
No effect
none
?
Body Fat
2 studies
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Bone Mineral Density
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Cortisol
Improves
?
Functionality in Elderly or Injured
1 study
Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
Improves
D
Cognition
No effect
1 study
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Cortisol
Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Erections
1 study
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Bone Mineral Density
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Functionality in Elderly or Injured
2 studies
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
IGF Binding Protein
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Bone Mineral Density
Improves
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Weight
1 study
Improves
D
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
No effect
none
?
Quality of Life
1 study
Improves
D
Libido
No effect
none
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Erections
No effect
1 study
none
?
Libido
Improves
?
Prostate-Specific Antigen
1 study
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Estrogen
Worsens
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
D
Bone Mineral Density
No effect
none
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study
Improves
?
Growth Hormone
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Serum DHEA
Improves
?
Serum T3
1 study
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
Improves
D
Cognition
No effect
1 study
none
?
Depression Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
D
Body Fat
No effect
1 study
none
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Testosterone
Improves
?
Fertility
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

CGeneral Athletic Performance
2
CortisolImprovesBody FatTestosteroneImproves
CMetabolic Health
1
Blood FlowImprovesBlood glucoseImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
CDyslipidemia
1
CortisolImprovesEstrogenWorsensMuscle MassImproves
CMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
1
Cognitive DeclineImprovesEstrogenWorsensSerum DHEAImproves
DBody Composition
1
Blood glucoseBody FatImprovesMuscle MassImproves
DBone Health
1
Bone Mineral DensityIGF-1ImprovesEstrogenWorsens
DMenopause
1
Body FatTestosteroneImprovesEstrogenWorsens
DCognitive Improvement
1
CognitionCognitive DeclineImprovesCortisolImproves
DLow Testosterone
1
Body FatSerum DHEAImprovesTestosteroneImproves
DFrailty
1
Body FatBone Mineral DensityImprovesEstrogenWorsens
DWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
Body FatBone Mineral DensityImprovesEstrogenWorsens
DFibromyalgia
1
Fibromyalgia SymptomsQuality of LifeImproves
DFemale Sexual Dysfunction
1
LibidoSerum DHEAImprovesTestosteroneImproves
DMale Sexual Dysfunction
1
ErectionsLibidoImprovesProstate-Specific AntigenImproves
DGeneral Liver Health
1
Body FatEstrogenWorsensLuteinizing HormoneImproves
DHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
1
Bone Mineral DensityMuscle MassImprovesSubjective Well-BeingImproves
DHypoadrenalism
1
Body FatTestosteroneImprovesGlycemic ControlImproves
DMood Improvement
1
CognitionDepression SymptomsImprovesLibidoImproves
DHealthy Muscle Aging
1
Body FatMuscle MassImprovesPower OutputImproves
DMuscle Size & Strength
1
Body FatMuscle MassImprovesTestosteroneImproves

Research Citations (28)

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