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Benefits of DHEA for Women

Depending on which company's advertising you read, the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), widely sold as an herbal supplement, is an anti-aging wonder-cure. While scientific evidence points to DHEA as useful for a handful of medical conditions, the hormone is not a panacea for all that ails you after 50, and there are risks associated with using it.

  1. The Facts

    • Mayo Clinic endocrinologist K. Sreekumaran Nair, M.D., points out that DHEA is naturally produced in the adrenal glands and converted to estrogen and testosterone. A synthetic form of DHEA is available over-the-counter in the United States. Natural DHEA levels peak in your 20s and decrease with age. "In theory, taking DHEA supplements to maintain DHEA levels should slow the aging process," Nair writes. "Research hasn't proved this to be true, however."

    Probable Benefits

    • The U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website reports there is promising evidence that DHEA is helpful in treating adrenal insufficiency. Studies suggest DHEA improves hormone levels, well being, quality of life, sex drive and exercise capacity when given to those patients. Other studies suggest DHEA is helpful in treating depression, obesity and systemic lupus erthematosus, an autoimmune disorder more common in women than in men. With all of these potential uses, though, further research is needed to confirm the early study results, MedlinePlus notes.

    Unclear Evidence

    • Other studies are investigating whether DHEA can be helpful with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, poor bone density, cardiovascular disease, cervical cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, cocaine withdrawal, critical illness, Crohn's disease, HIV/AIDS, induction of labor, infertility, libido, menopause, myotonic dystrophy, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, septicemia, Sjogren's syndrome and skin aging. All of these studies have yielded unclear results so far, MedlinePlus notes.

    Evidence Against Use

    • Still other studies cited by MedlinePlus have resulted in evidence that DHEA doesn't appear to help with postmenopausal fibromyalgia, memory, muscle strength and stimulation of the immune system, though there is conflicting evidence about muscle strength.

    Dosage

    • The Mayo Clinic reports that generally, the dosage of DHEA is 25 or 200 milligrams per day, except when taken for HIV/AIDS or depression, when dosages of up to 500 mg are used. When applied as a topical cream, the typical strength is 5 to 10 percent and the cream is applied for up to four weeks.

    Side Effects

    • MedlinePlus reports that recommended dosages of DHEA result in few side effects, but nevertheless urges caution in use by people with high cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid disorders or other endocrine abnormalities. Side effects noted by MedlinePlus include fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, mood swings, abnormal periods and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Research has linked DHEA use to increased facial hair growth in women, acne and reduction in HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Long-term or excessive use of DHEA might increase the risk of breast, ovarian and other hormone-sensitive cancers because in theory, DHEA can raise estrogen levels, Nair wrote.

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