Introduction
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that the body uses to make sex hormones. It has been used to support fertility treatment and ease the symptoms of irregular hormones. DHEA can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be injected into the muscle or bloodstream by a health provider.
Dosages
50 to 200 milligrams once daily
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Assisted reproduction treatment support —likely to improve treatment outcomes B1-B6
May Be Effective
- Depression —may ease symptoms D1
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus —may improve quality of life I1
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Adrenal insufficiency A1
- Cognitive function C1
- Menopause E1-E3
- Muscle strength/physical function in older adults F1
- Osteoporosis G1
- Sexual function H1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe for most adults to take DHEA in small doses for a short time, but it may cause acne in some people. Taking DHEA orally in high doses may be unsafe. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take DHEA orally. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Adrenal Insufficiency
REFA1 Alkatib AA, Cosma M, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of DHEA treatment effects on quality of life in women with adrenal insufficiency. A Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94(10):3676-3681.
REFB Assisted Reproduction Treatment Support
REFB1 Gleicher N, Barad DH. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2011 May 17;9:67.
REFB2 Narkwichean A, Maalouf W, et al. Efficacy of dehydroepiandrosterone to improve ovarian response in women with diminished ovarian reserve: a meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2013 May 16;11:44.
REFB3 Nagels HE, Rishworth JR, et al. Androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone) for women undergoing assisted reproduction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009739.
REFB4 Li J, Yuan H, et al. A meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation among women with diminished ovarian reserve underdoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;131(2):240-245.
REFB5 Zhang M, Niu W, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment in women with poor ovarian response undergoing IVF or ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 Aug;33(8):981-991.
REFB6 Liu Y, Hu L, et al. Efficacy of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2018 Mar;34(3):178-183.
REFC Cognitive Function
REFC1 Grimley Evans J, Malouf R, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation for cognitive function in healthy elderly people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD006221.
REFD Depression
REFD1 Peixoto C, Devicari Cheda JN, et al. The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the treatment of depression and depressive symptoms in other psychiatric and medical illnesses: a systematic review. Curr Drug Targets. 2014;15(9):901-914.
REFE Menopause
REFE1 Elraiyah T, Sonbol MB, et al. Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Oct;99(10):3536-35342.
REFE2 Scheffers CS, Armstrong S, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD011066.
REFE3 Pitsouni E, Grigoriadis T, et al. Efficacy of vaginal therapies alternative to vaginal estrogens on sexual function and orgasm of menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018 Oct;229:45-56.
REFF Muscle Strength/Physical Function in Older Adults
REFF1 Baker WL, Karan S, et al. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on muscle strength and physical function in older adults: a systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Jun;59(6):997-1002.
REFG Osteoporosis
REFG1 Whelan AM, Jurgens TM, et al. Natural health products in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann Pharmacother. 2006 May;40(5):836-849.
REFH Sexual Function
REFH1 Peixoto C, Carrilho CG, et al. The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on sexual function: a systematic review. Climacteric. 2017 Apr;20(2):129-137.
REFI Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
REFI1 Crosbie D, Black C, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone for systemic lupus erythematosus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD005114.