Dehydroepiandrosterone

ID: dhea

Aliases: DHEA, prasterone, androstenolone, 3beta-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one

Type: compound

Route/form: oral supplement/prescription context; anti-doping status matters

Status: supplement_or_prescription_context_dependent

Evidence level: human RCT

Best data tier: human controlled/review

Support scope: human

Source types: human_rct, human_trial

Linked sources: 2

Broad outcomes: Hormones / fertility / sexual health, Longevity / mitochondrial / redox, Muscle growth / performance / recovery, PEDs / AAS / thermogenics, Safety / regulatory

Reading note: These are curation notes anchored to linked sources, not a clinical recommendation or protocol.

Targets / mechanism

• adrenal androgen precursor
• DHEA-S restoration
• downstream androgen and estrogen conversion

Optimization domains

• endocrine
• testosterone
• steroid
• aging
• muscle
• hormone optimization
• doping

Research basis

• Human RCTs show DHEA can restore DHEA-S and alter downstream sex-steroid markers, with one elderly resistance-training trial reporting enhanced training-related muscle/strength gains.
• It belongs in SARM/SERM/HCG stack maps because general users often add it as an adrenal-androgen substrate rather than as a direct AR agonist.

Limits, risks, and missing evidence

• A larger elderly-hormone trial found no meaningful improvement in VO2 peak, muscle strength, or insulin sensitivity, so anabolic claims are inconsistent and population-specific.
• Acne, hair loss, BP/lipid/mood effects, hormone-sensitive disease context, and anti-doping status matter even though it is sold as a supplement in some places.

Risk flags

• hormone precursor
• androgenic side effects
• hormone sensitive context
• anti doping status
• inconsistent anabolic signal

Linked papers, labels, and reviews

1. DHEA enhances effects of weight training on muscle mass and strength in elderly women and men
   human_rct / pubmed_dhea_weight_training_elderly_2006
   Randomized trial reporting DHEA replacement enhanced resistance-training adaptations in elderly participants.
2. DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men
   human_trial / pubmed_dhea_elderly_nejm_2006
   Two-year placebo-controlled trial; DHEA restored DHEA-S but did not improve VO2 peak, muscle strength, or insulin sensitivity.