DHEA Health Benefits: The Naturally Created Steroid in the Adrenal Gland, Helps Protect Aging

I am in my third year of remission from uterine cancer caused by my menopausal hormones going crazy. I am 54 and was wondering if I could take DHEA? If so, at what mg? Will taking it make me get cancer again? I definitely don't want to go through what I have gone through again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Jannis, Thank you for asking this most important question. Just because a supplement or hormone is readily available over the counter and in health food stores, does not make it a safe supplement to take or even with which to experiment. DHEA is short for Dehydroepiandrosterone, a hormone which is produced by the adrenal gland. DHEA declines in humans with aging, therefore it has been touted as an anti-aging hormone, although studies to date have not shown any definitive positive results in this regard, or any other benefits to taking it as a supplement. DHEA can raise estrogen and testosterone levels in the body, so it is not recommended if you have had cancer, especially of the female or male organs, or any other hormone-related cancers. DHEA is available over the counter in the US, however, in the European countries, it can be obtained by prescription only. Because DHEA is a precursor hormone, which means that it can be converted by the body into other hormones, it is not a wise idea for you to take it. Some doctors who do prescribe DHEA, do so after only checking and monitoring the patients laboratory levels in the blood and saliva. And most doctors do not recommend it if one has had cancer. In short, it is not recommended for people with cancer, especially hormone-related cancers, children, and adults under 40 years of age, and should not be self-dosed without laboratory monitoring.

I'm a 46-year-old male. I used to take DHEA but don't at this time. I considered going back on it but articles like this one have persuaded me that the jury is still out on the safety and efficacy of this powerful hormone. Sounds like the medical community has really taken sides on this supplement. Can't we just all get along and agree or disagree together?

What are the negative effects of DHEA on premenopausal women? If a women took 50 mg of DHEA for 3-5 days, there shouldn't be a significant risk if it is discontinued at that time, would that be correct? I am 44 and have been feeling the effects of aging rapidly. I took DHEA 50 mg for a few days and I feel great. I am having severe Sciatica which is often associated with my PMS. Should I be worried?

Dear Karen, I do not recommend supplementing with DHEA without first obtaining a blood or saliva test to determine the levels of DHEA. It is unwise to use this supplement without first seeking the advice of a qualified health care practitioner or your doctor. It probably will not have caused any harm from your self-dosing for this short period of time, but it is not advisable to continue to do so. The goal of DHEA supplementation is to restore the level to the normal range, and not to increase the DHEA levels to beyond the normal values because it will take it's toll on the adrenal gland if the dosing is too high. For women, doctors usually prescribe a petite dose of pharmaceutical DHEA beginning at 2.5 mg, and gradually titrate it up to a higher dose if it is tolerated. Over-the-counter DHEA supplements are not recommended because of their questionable quality. Some women are unable to tolerate this hormone even in such small doses, without side effects. Also, there is an delicate interaction between all of the hormones in the body, and this balance should not be tampered with by someone who does not know what the consequences of these interactions. Fatigue may be a symptom of a more serious problem, which should warrant further investigation into the cause of the problem. You say that you have been feeling the effects of aging rapidly, but do not list the specifics. Aging is normal, however, feeling vital and healthy as we age is obtainable. If you have issues with vanity problems such as wrinkles, sags, and bags, then DHEA is not the quick fix which you need. You might want to visit an Acupuncturist for help with your Sciatica and PMS. Good luck in your search for balance and health as you age.

I have been taking 25 mg. of DHEA daily, along with other vitamins. I just stopped taking it. I have been sick recently and they are testing for hyperactive thyroid, nervousness, raised heart activity episodes, and sweats etc. There are no heart disorders at all. My heart is very healthy. My blood pressure, cholesterol, weight etc. are all very good. I am 52 year old male. Should I be concerned about stopping the DHEA so abruptly? Any other comments?

What are the dangers of taking 75mg a day of DHEA for infertility for 4 months, only for IVF purposes?

What is the reason for a woman of child bearing age not to take a DHEA supplements even at 5 to 10 mg per dose?

Dear Jenny, If you are dosing yourself on DHEA and undergoing IVF, please consult with your doctor. 75 mg is an excessive amount to take and since DHEA is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone, it should not be taken without first having your doctor test these hormone levels along with DHEA levels. Your doctor should be closely monitoring you on this hormone and you should not self-dose. I don't have any expertise on IVF and do not know the consequences or effects of DHEA on the delicate balance of the hormones needed for conceiving.

Dear Sara, I do not recommend anyone taking any amount of DHEA without first having a doctor test his or her hormone levels. DHEA is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone and as such it can increase these levels beyond the normal range. When a person self-doses, she runs the risk of causing an imbalance in her hormones. If you are considering pregnancy, it is imperative that you do not self-dose yourself with any hormone.

I am a 43 yr old woman going through pre-menopause. I have seen a Dr. and gotten my blood work. I am on bio identical estrogen and progesterone as well as DHEA and catecholacalm. It seems that when I take the DHEA and catecholacalm that my adrenals came back messed up in my blood work. I start to feel very sick. I can take the bio identical without problem, but have you ever heard of anyone feeling super nauseous and even weird, like dizzy and just a strange feeling from taking DHEA?

Hi Jacqueline, it is best to tell your doctor what is happening and discuss the problem as he or she has all of your information and can perhaps figure out what is happening.

I'm 28 years old and a mother of three, I was researching about DHEA, and when looking at the signs, I check almost all of them, I decided to have it checked. The doctor said it was 217. What is normal range and can it change? I seriously feel helpless. She really didn't want to give me the test. She said I was too young, and it's because I have had kids that I feel this way. My family and I are lost. Can you give any advise that may help us?

Hope, you should see an endocrinologist and have your thyroid checked. It is more likely that your thyroid is off if your DHEA is within range. Your TSH should be at 1.5 for women, but most doctors will go by the lab range of .5-5.0 which is terrible. Best of Luck.

I'm a 21 year old male. I'm 6'1 and i way 175 pounds. I've been trying to increase my muscle mass through lifting and taking protein supplements but a friend at GNC said instead of a testosterone booster I should try 25-50mg of DHEA a day. He said its much cheaper and could be really beneficial for me in gaining lean muscle mass. I have been taking 50mg per day now for a week and a half. I have not read of any bad side effects yet and have not felt any yet but was just curious since I'm 21 if it is OK to continue taking it or not?

I am 50 year old woman who went through a shock at the tragic death of her husband in a plane crash a year ago. Since then my periods stopped immediately and I got hot flashes. I recently had my saliva tested and my sex hormones are pretty balanced however my cortisol was 62 and my DHEA was 1. After reading Suzanne Sommers books and speaking with my doctor, we decided on drops of 5mg 2 times a day of micro DHEA. The doctor first wanted to put me on a cream but I felt that it had too much DHEA ( <1gram for each pump) it was a 58 gram bottle with 45 pumps in it. Now I am wondering if I strong armed the doctor in giving me too little. Are there any approximate amounts for patients with such low DHEA as myself, or do you think there could be another reason my level showed so low? Thank you.

I am a 57 yr male and have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, with the usual symptoms, shaking, palpitations, weight loss, sweats , erectile dysfunction etc. I strongly suspect it has been caused by taking 50mgs DHEA supplements, and have to confirm this with my doctor. DHEA really boosted my libido, but is it it worth it if it throws out thyroid activity? I didn't clear taking the DHEA with my doctor first. Now I'm faced with the horrendous thyroid treatments.

Dear Geroge B, If you have read through any of my answers above, you will know that I do not recommend that one self-dose with DHEA and other hormones without first checking with a doctor and having blood or saliva testing done. I do not recommend that you continue to take DHEA for long term without first checking with your doctor. I will repeat: It is dangerous to self-dose with hormones at any age.

Dear Victoria B, my condolences to you for your loss. Severe shock and trauma both emotionally and physically can have a profound effect upon the body and hormonal production and cellular responses. Your age indicates that you are at the average age when women typically go through the stages of menopause when hormones can normally wildly fluctuate before they eventually decrease to the post-menopausal levels. I am not an advocate of hormonal cremes because of their irregular delivery system into the body. Hormones in topical creme form make it difficult to balance their levels in the body. I doubt that you strong-armed your doctor or she or he wouldn't have prescribed the hormones for you. There are no set levels or doses of hormones for any one person, so continual on-going monitoring of your levels is extremely important. You should confide your doubts and concerns with your doctor and request that you be continually monitored with testing and share all your symptoms and concerns with your doctor. Good luck and best of health to you.

Dear Lawrence,thank you for your comment. Hopefully, it will help others who insist upon self-dosing with hormones without the consent of their physician. Your doctor will be able to give you the advice and information regarding your health and individual situation. Even thought hormone supplementation is available over the counter, this does not mean that everyone should supplement with hormones without first knowing the current levels present in the body. More is not better in this case. The doctor's goal in supplementing with hormonal therapy should be to bring the body back into balance with the proper physiological doses and not to over medicate.

I'm 35 and have been on DHEA for 3 months. I am 10 weeks pregnant and only just stopped taking it. I was under the impression it was OK but when reading about it on the net it said to stop taking when pregnant. I'm scared I have harmed my baby. Could you please tell me what damage I my have done or what to look for at my first scan. Thank you.

Dear Michelle, supplementing with DHEA could cause a miscarriage when you are pregnant. Please share this information with your doctor and he or she will decide how to monitor you and your child for side effects that you may have incurred from taking it. It is always wise to share all pertinent medical information with your doctor. I understand your concern, however, it is impossible to predict or diagnose any potential harm or problems over the internet. You were wise to stop taking the supplement as soon as you were aware of the consequences. Good luck.