Good health and the appearance of youth is partly influenced by the correct hormone balance within the body. As you age, your hormone levels drop, which may be the culprit behind many age-related health issues. Dehydroepiandrosterone is the base ingredient of sex hormones, and proponents believe that supplementing with DHEA allows your body to choose which hormone it needs at the moment to fix whatever imbalance may be occurring. There is not enough evidence as of time of publication to definitively state that DHEA has a beneficial effect on inflammation or cholesterol. Consult with your physician before taking any supplements.
Cholesterol
According to MayoClinic.com, there may be a benefit to people with arterial cholesterol plaques. While the research appears promising, there is a question as to the safety of DHEA supplementation vs. older, more proven treatments. Additionally, MedlinePlus warns that DHEA may lower your HDL, or "good" cholesterol, which can be problematic for those with already-low or borderline HDL levels. The evidence is not sufficient for DHEA to replace your normal cholesterol medication, but ask your doctor whether he recommends supplementation in your particular situation.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body's response to irritants and is initiated by chemicals released by the immune system. As you age, these chemicals become present in greater amounts, and according to Life Extension, DHEA supplementation may help reduce these high levels. The research is not yet conclusive, but it is promising in cases of chronic inflammation like inflammatory arthritis and lupus. Talk to your doctor before taking DHEA for inflammation, because many medications for inflammation can make DHEA less effective, requiring a different dose.
Dosage
Your DHEA dose depends greatly upon a number of factors including your condition and your age. Your body naturally makes a certain amount of DHEA, but production decreases as you age. Supplement dosages range from 25 to 200 mg per day, but Life Extension notes that doses under 30 mg have been deemed insufficient in young people and says that most studies used a single daily dose of 50 mg. The dose for treating lupus is different, however -- MedlinePlus says that the typical dose is 200 mg per day as an adjunct to regular medical treatment, but some treatment schedules require doses up to 600 mg per day.
Side Effects
Though the body can theoretically choose which sex hormone it wants to make out of DHEA, it doesn't always choose correctly. Possible side effects include male breast enlargement and masculinization of women. Some effects, like voice deepening, may be irreversible even after treatment is discontinued. DHEA has not been thoroughly studied for long-term use, so don't attempt to use it long term without your doctor's supervision -- the longer you take it, the more you are at risk for side effects. Non-gender-related side effects include fatigue, irregular heartbeat, acne, headache and nasal congestion, and MayoClinic.com warns that DHEA may increase your risk of hormone-related cancers.
