Your body's adrenal glands produce a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA for short, which it uses to create androgens and estrogens, the sex hormones for males and females, respectively. DHEA is used to treat conditions that might involve low levels of adrenalin, like adrenal insufficiency, depression and systemic lupus erythematosus. DHEA has also been successfully used to induce labor. Other conditions, for example osteoporosis, obesity, erectile dysfunction, HIV and menopause, have also been treated with DHEA, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. While some conditions respond to treatment with DHEA, others show mixed results and warrant more research.
Dosing
If you are a male aged 19 years or older, the recommended dosage of DHEA is 50 mg a day, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. If you are a female aged 19 years or older, the recommended dosage is 25 mg a day, though daily dosages of 50 mg have been used under medical supervision to treat females for conditions like anorexia and adrenal insufficiency. Higher doses have been used to treat lupus, again with medical supervision. Children under the age of 18 should not be given DHEA supplements unless under the supervision of a doctor. In general, DHEA supplements are not recommended for people under the age of 40 unless a doctor determines their DHEA levels are low.
Side Effects
While DHEA is possibly safe for a majority of users when taken for only a few months at most, it can cause side effects such as acne, hair loss, stomach upset and high blood pressure, according to MedlinePlus. Some women experience changes in their menstrual cycle, growth of facial hair and a deepening of the voice after taking DHEA. There is a good possibility DHEA becomes unsafe when used in doses larger than 100 mg a day or for a long period of time because both these situations increase the chance of side effects.
Pregnant and Nursing Women
Breastfeeding babies may take in DHEA through their mother's milk and could be harmed by the resulting increased levels of the male hormone androgen, MedlinePlus reports. Because of this risk, it is best to avoid DHEA if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis or uterine fibroids may be made worse by DHEA because it is a hormone that affects how estrogen works in the body.
Precautions
Taking DHEA can increase your blood sugar level and insulin resistance, the Mayo Clinic reports. DHEA can also alter your levels of cholesterol, thyroid hormones and adrenal function. If you suffer from diabetes, hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders or endocrine or hormonal abnormalities, you must exercise caution if you need to use DHEA. A health care professional should monitor your serum glucose, cholesterol, and thyroid levels and adjust your medication as needed. If you have a history of depression and bipolar disorder, you might experience side effects such as excitability and impulsiveness, irritability and sexual inappropriateness with use of DHEA, according to MedlinePlus. Be sure to discuss your plans to use DHEA with your health care provider before taking it.
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