# DHEA supplementation

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) circulates mainly as DHEA-S. It is a precursor that your peripheral tissues use to make testosterone and estradiol. Serum DHEA-S peaks in early adulthood, then falls by roughly 80% by age 70 to 80 (a process called adrenopause). The enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase converts DHEA to androgens and estrogens in the tissues, with tissue-specific, sex-dependent effects. The DHEAge Study (Baulieu et al. 2000, n=280, age 60 to 79) randomized people to 50 mg of oral DHEA or placebo for one year. Bone density and skin hydration improved in older women. But body composition, muscle strength, and cognition were unaffected. A meta-analysis of 10 RCTs in women with adrenal insufficiency (Alkatib et al. 2009) found only a small quality-of-life benefit (effect size 0.21). The DAWN Trial (Kritz-Silverstein et al. 2008) found no benefit on cognition or well-being in healthy older adults. A 2025 Mendelian randomization study (Schooling & Zhao) linked genetically higher DHEA-S to a shorter lifespan in men (about 1.15 years less per logged µmol/L), but not in women. That argues against a causally favorable longevity effect. One safety concern: it can stimulate hormone-sensitive cancers. DHEA is sold over the counter in the USA, but it is prescription-only in most of Europe.

## Sources

- Baulieu EE, Thomas G, Legrain S, et al.. (2000). Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and aging: Contribution of the DHEAge Study to a sociobiomedical issue. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.97.8.4279
- Alkatib AA, Cosma M, Elamin MB, et al.. (2009). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials of DHEA Treatment Effects on Quality of Life in Women with Adrenal Insufficiency. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-0672
- Kritz-Silverstein D, von Mühlen D, Laughlin GA, Bettencourt R. (2008). Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life: The DHEA and Well-Ness (DAWN) Trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01768.x
- Schooling CM, Zhao JV. (2025). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on lifespan in men and women using Mendelian randomization. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2025.104128

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/dhea-supplementation · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_