Dehydroepiandrosterone · Prasterone
25 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 90 caps
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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands. It serves as a precursor to testosterone and estradiol. Blood levels peak in early adulthood and decline steadily with age — by age 70, DHEA-S levels are often 20% of young-adult values. Supplemental DHEA is used to restore levels in deficient individuals.
DHEA is converted peripherally into androstenedione, then into testosterone and estradiol via tissue-specific enzymes. In men with low baseline DHEA-S, supplementation can raise testosterone and estradiol modestly. In men with normal baseline levels, the HPA axis appears to compensate, and testosterone increases are minimal or absent.
Men over 40 with confirmed low DHEA-S blood levels, low energy, reduced libido, or mood decline. Not a general-purpose testosterone booster for young men with normal adrenal function. Prescription-only in some countries.
Contraindicated in hormone-sensitive cancers (prostate, breast), severe liver disease, and during pregnancy. May increase estrogen and DHT; monitor for gynecomastia, acne, or hair loss. Regular hormone panel monitoring (DHEA-S, testosterone, estradiol) is essential.
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✓ Morning dosing mimics natural adrenal circadian rhythm and may reduce insomnia risk
✓ Take with breakfast to reduce GI upset and align with natural cortisol peak
DHEA is converted peripherally into androstenedione, then into testosterone and estradiol via tissue-specific enzymes.
Each bar = one cited trial. Effect varies by methodology, dose, and population.
Adult males with low-normal testosterone (n≈57)
Normal testosterone range 300–1000 ng/dL (adult male).
24
→ DHEA replacement restored DHEA-S, testosterone, and androstenedione to physiologic levels and improved well-being and sexuality in women with adrenal failure.
113
→ 6 months of 50 mg/day DHEA in elderly women increased DHEA-S and testosterone but had minimal effect in men; no significant functional improvements were observed.
29
→ 150 mg/day DHEA increased androstenedione but did not affect testosterone, strength, or lean mass in young men undergoing 8 weeks of resistance training.
B · DHEA reliably restores hormone levels in deficient individuals (e.g., adrenal insufficiency, elderly women) but produces minimal testosterone or functional gains in healthy young or middle-aged men. Benefits are most likely in men with documented low DHEA-S.
A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.
Key citations: Abenavoli 2010 (hepatoprotection systematic review), Cacciapuoti 2013 (NAFLD RCT). richResearch section contains study filters.
How to use DHEA specifically for Low energy — the right dose, timing, blood markers to track, and how to know if it is working.
A clinical evidence review of DHEA — RCT data, effect sizes, evidence grade, and what the numbers mean for your specific situation.
Everything you need to know about DHEA — mechanism, dose, safety, buying guide for India, and what the research actually says.
SacredBod's longer take on DHEA — context the structured blocks above don't capture.
DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in humans, yet its supplemental use is surrounded by more myth than evidence. For men, the key question is not whether DHEA can raise testosterone — it is whether your testosterone needs raising in the first place, and whether DHEA is the right tool for the job.
DHEA-S levels decline linearly from age 30 onward. By age 60, many men have levels below the young-adult reference range. In this population, 25-50 mg/day of DHEA can restore DHEA-S and produce modest increases in testosterone and estradiol. The 2001 Arlt study in women with adrenal insufficiency demonstrated that DHEA replacement restored multiple steroid hormones to physiologic levels and improved quality of life — establishing the principle that replacement works when deficiency exists.
However, the 2009 Weiss study in 113 elderly adults (both men and women) found that while DHEA-S and testosterone increased in women, men showed minimal hormonal response and no functional improvements in strength, cognition, or well-being. This suggests that aging men may have sufficient residual adrenal function, or that peripheral conversion of DHEA to testosterone is downregulated with age.
The 1999 Brown study is particularly instructive: 29 young men took 150 mg/day DHEA during 8 weeks of resistance training. Androstenedione increased significantly, but testosterone, strength, and lean body mass were unchanged compared with placebo. The HPA axis and peripheral enzymes effectively buffered against excessive androgen production in men with already-adequate baseline levels.
DHEA is a hormone, not a vitamin. It can increase estrogen and DHT alongside testosterone, raising theoretical risks for gynecomastia, prostate concerns, acne, and hair loss. Men using DHEA should:
DHEA is over-the-counter in the United States and India but prescription-only in many European countries, Australia, and Canada. This regulatory divergence reflects uncertainty about its risk-benefit profile in healthy populations.
For men with confirmed low DHEA-S, DHEA is a logical replacement therapy — but so is addressing sleep, stress, and body composition, which also affect adrenal output. For men with normal DHEA-S, tongkat ali or zinc + vitamin D are more evidence-based testosterone supports. DHEA should not be the first supplement you reach for unless blood testing justifies it.
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