Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a type of steroid hormone. Produced in and secreted by your adrenal glands, DHEA converts to either estrogen or testosterone as needed by your body. Your natural levels of DHEA peak in early adulthood and then slowly decrease as your body ages. Interest in DHEA supplementation stems from its potential to offset this decline, possibly treating certain health conditions or enhancing physical performance.
Background
Due to misleading claims about the health benefits of DHEA, the Food and Drug Administration removed it as an over-the-counter supplement in 1985. Although it re-entered the market in 1994 under the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, the National Collegiate Athletic Association banned it as a performance enhancer. Creighton University Medical Center reports that, since the 1990s, news coverage based on a variety of sometimes-questionable studies has led to an increase in the popularity of DHEA as a supplement.
Efficacy
According to both the University of California at San Diego and Medline, fairly good evidence exists for the use of DHEA in treating the symptoms of lupus, osteoporosis and schizophrenia. DHEA appears to be ineffective for weight loss, menopausal symptoms or Alzheimer's disease. As a performance enhancer to improve strength and muscle mass and as a sexual stimulant, DHEA shows mixed results. Further well-designed studies are necessary to determine which populations and which disorders may benefit from DHEA supplementation.
Dosing
The University of California at San Diego reports controversy concerning the appropriate dosage of DHEA, citing a lack of well-controlled human studies. A 5 mg to 15 mg dose is the lowest recommended daily amount for women who have low blood levels of DHEA, while the range is 10 to 30 mg for men. However, dosing of 25 to 200 mg per day is common, states MayoClinic.com, with even higher dosages under investigation for specific conditions such as HIV infection.
Safety
Short-term use of low-dose DHEA supplements appears to be safe. Side effects are dose-dependent, with acne, increased facial hair, menstrual cycle disruptions, hair loss, headache and irregular heartbeat common events. Because DHEA is a sex hormone precursor, DHEA may affect your risk of hormone-related cancers, including breast, ovarian, uterine or prostate. As of 2010, no studies have examined the long-term effects of DHEA supplementation.
Considerations
Because the FDA considers DHEA a supplement rather than a drug, it is not regulated. Therefore, DHEA supplements may suffer from quality control issues, with formulations containing more or less than what the label states. Although scientists can manufacture synthetic DHEA from wild yams, your body is unable to do so; yam extracts labeled as "natural DHEA" are ineffective. As with any supplement, consult with your health care provider prior to DHEA use, particularly if you take other medications.
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