If marketing and anecdotal evidence are to be believed, taking DHEA supplements can help counteract signs of aging, such as muscle loss and skin sagging. It’s also purported to boost your sex drive and even fight depression.
If that sounds too good to be true, it likely is. While DHEA supplements may have minor effects on some age-related or health conditions, scientific evidence of their effectiveness is lacking.
Here’s what you need to know about this increasingly popular supplement.
What is DHEA?
DHEA is the abbreviation for the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, produced by the adrenal glands. Levels of DHEA are at their highest when you’re in your 20s. With age, levels of the hormone naturally decrease.
DHEA is a precursor to other hormones, namely testosterone and estrogen. That means your body takes DHEA and turns it into those hormones. Not surprisingly, testosterone and estrogen levels also decrease with age, following the decrease in DHEA.
What are the potential benefits of taking DHEA supplements?
Depending on whom you ask, you may get very different answers to the question of DHEA’s health benefits. Anti-aging influencers and others may swear by the supplement, but there is very limited scientific study to back up many of these claims.
The best (although still limited) evidence for DHEA supplement benefits is related to:
- Depression: Although some small studies have shown that DHEA may improve depression, the supplement is not typically prescribed to treat it.
- Increased lean muscle mass: For older adults, DHEA supplements may alter the ratio of body fat to lean body mass but may not improve overall strength.
- Skin aging: There’s limited evidence that oral or topical DHEA can help skin stay more hydrated, reduce skin thinning and improve collagen production.
- Vaginal atrophy: Thinning of the vaginal tissue is a common issue for postmenopausal women, often leading to painful sex. Vaginal DHEA suppositories may help.
What are the side effects of taking DHEA?
DHEA is a hormone that increases production of other hormones (estrogen and testosterone). That means it can have some hormone-related side effects:
- Acne
- Breast development (in men)
- Hair loss (such as male-pattern baldness in women)
- Low sperm count (in men)
- Oily skin
- Voice changes (in women)
It’s important to note that most people take over-the-counter supplements of DHEA that are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This lack of oversight can make it impossible to know how much DHEA you’re actually taking.
Most studies of DHEA use supplements of 25 to 50 milligrams daily. This is thought to mimic the amount of DHEA produced in healthy young adults.
Who should avoid DHEA?
The hormonal effects of taking supplemental DHEA can be potentially dangerous for some people. If you are already taking estrogen or testosterone, adding DHEA can increase the risk of hormone-related side effects (such as nausea, headache and insomnia.
DHEA supplements are also not recommended for anyone who:
- Has a hormone-sensitive type of cancer, such as breast or prostate
- Has high cholesterol
- Is taking antidepressants
- Is pregnant or breastfeeding
No matter your current health or medications, you shouldn’t start taking DHEA (or any supplement) without first talking to your doctor. They can help you better understand the potential benefits and risks and assess whether DHEA is safe for you.
