Educational only: this is not medical advice. Always check with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement.
What is DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)?
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands, and it holds the distinction of being the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in the human body.
What it does for you
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How to take it
- Cognitive and mood dosage: 25-50 mg per day for general supplementation
- Clinical depression studies: Doses of 90-450 mg/day have been used in clinical trials for depression, under medical supervision
- Timing: Take in the morning to align with the natural circadian rhythm of DHEA production
- Blood testing recommended: Measure DHEA-S levels before and during supplementation to ensure levels remain within the healthy range
- Onset: Mood effects may be noticed within 2-3 weeks. Full cognitive and hormonal effects develop over 4-8 weeks
Watch out for
- Hormonal effects: As a steroid hormone precursor, DHEA can increase levels of testosterone and oestrogen. Monitor for androgenic effects (acne, hair growth)...
- Hormone-sensitive conditions: Contraindicated in individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers (breast, prostate, ovarian) or at high risk for them
- Blood testing essential: DHEA-S levels should be monitored to avoid supraphysiological levels. Target age-appropriate ranges, not peak youthful levels
- Drug interactions: May interact with hormone therapies, insulin, and certain psychiatric medications. Consult your doctor before use
- Legal status: Available over-the-counter in the US and UK as a supplement. Prescription-only in some EU countries. Banned by WADA for athletes
The science, if you're curious.
- Directly modulates GABA-A receptors (reducing inhibition) and NMDA receptors (enhancing excitation), shifting the brain towards a state of greater alertness...
- Activates sigma-1 receptors, which regulate calcium signalling, BDNF release, and neuronal survival - a key mechanism for neuroprotection and mood
- Opposes the neurotoxic effects of chronically elevated cortisol, protecting hippocampal neurons from stress-induced damage
- Serves as a metabolic precursor to testosterone, oestrogen, and other androgens, indirectly supporting the cognitive and mood benefits of these hormones
Where to find it
- Capsules and tablets: Widely available from supplement retailers in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg dosages
- Micronised DHEA: Micronised formulations may offer improved absorption
- Sublingual tablets: Available for faster absorption and to partially bypass first-pass liver metabolism
- 7-Keto DHEA: A metabolite of DHEA that does not convert to sex hormones - an alternative for those wanting DHEA benefits without hormonal effects
Frequently asked
The most abundant neurosteroid in the human brain - a precursor to testosterone and oestrogen that declines sharply with age, supporting mood, memory, neuroprotection, and cognitive vitality when supplemented.
The main benefits people report from DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) are: Energy, Libido, Longevity, Memory, Mood, Stress Relief.
Cognitive and mood dosage: 25-50 mg per day for general supplementationClinical depression studies: Doses of 90-450 mg/day have been used in clinical trials for depression, under medical supervisionTiming: Take in the morning to align with the natural circadian rhythm of DHEA productionBlood testing...
Hormonal effects: As a steroid hormone precursor, DHEA can increase levels of testosterone and oestrogen. Monitor for androgenic effects (acne, hair growth)...Hormone-sensitive conditions: Contraindicated in individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers (breast, prostate, ovarian) or at high risk for t...
Directly modulates GABA-A receptors (reducing inhibition) and NMDA receptors (enhancing excitation), shifting the brain towards a state of greater alertness...Activates sigma-1 receptors, which regulate calcium signalling, BDNF release, and neuronal survival - a key mechanism for neuroprotection and...
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