DHEA Supplements Review
Choose the Best DHEA
Supplement. Beware of Big Differences in Dose and Price.
Medically reviewed and
edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. 
Initially Posted:
07/18/2015
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Table of Contents
Summary
·
What do DHEA supplements do? There is weak evidence that taking DHEA
(a hormone the body uses to create other hormones, including estrogen and
testosterone) may help improve mood, and in older men and women, sexual
function and the appearance of the skin. (See What It Does)
·
What did CL's tests of DHEA find? Products reviewed
by ConsumerLab.com were found to contain what they claimed and did not exceed
contamination limits for heavy metals. However, labeled amounts of DHEA in
products tested varied considerably, from 10 mg to 100 mg per pill — so it's
important to choose one that provides the right dose for the intended use, at
the best price. See the top choices of products "Approved"
by ConsumerLab.com.
·
How much DHEA should I take? A typical dose is about 50 mg of DHEA
per day, although for some uses, such as depression, the dose may be higher.
(See ConsumerTips™)
·
DHEA safety and side effects: DHEA may increase testosterone levels in
women, and should not be taken by women with hormone-sensitive diseases, such
as breast cancer. It may also decrease levels of HDL ("good
cholesterol") and increase insulin resistance. See Concerns and Cautions for other potential
side effects and drug interactions.
What It Is:
Dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA) is a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands. DHEA in dietary
supplements is synthetic, manufactured from plant chemicals found in soybeans
and wild yam. You cannot, however, get DHEA directly from eating soy or yams.
Other names for DHEA are prasterone and DHEA sulfate.
In the U.S., DHEA is sold only as a dietary supplement or by compounding
pharmacies. A pharmaceutical-grade preparation trademarked Prestara
was in development in the U.S. but failed to gain FDA approval. In Canada, DHEA
is classified as a controlled drug and not available as a supplement. Be aware
that 7-keto DHEA (used in some weight loss
supplements and reviewed separately by ConsumerLab.com) is not the same as
DHEA.
What It Does:
Anti-Aging: The body uses DHEA to produce other steroidal hormones,
such as estrogen and testosterone, after first converting it into
androstenedione. Levels of DHEA peak in a person's 20's and then begin to
decline. On this basis, DHEA supplements have been touted as a kind of
"fountain of youth," said to reverse the effects of aging.
DHEA, however, is not a general anti-aging solution. In more than ten
double-blind studies enrolling thousands of seniors, DHEA supplementation has
failed to improve general well-being, muscle mass or mental function. On the
other hand, a recent study (Weiss, Am J Clin Nutr 2009) showed that DHEA (50 mg per day)
taken with vitamin D and calcium improves bone mineral density in the spines of
older in women (but not in men). There is weak evidence that DHEA, in women
over age 70, might help improve sexual dysfunction. In elderly men and women
DHEA may also increase skin thickness and hydration as well as decrease facial
skin pigmentation (Baulieu, Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA 2000). DHEA may also improve erectile dysfunction in men
who have low DHEA levels (see Product
Review of Supplements for Sexual Enhancement). Very weak evidence
hints that when given to seniors, DHEA might enhance the immune response to
vaccines.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): This autoimmune disease is
estimated to affect up to 1.5 million Americans. The vast majority of those
afflicted with SLE are women. According to several
studies, DHEA may permit a reduction of the normal dose of corticosteroid
medication. Initial research suggested that it might also offset side effects
of corticosteroid therapy such as accelerated osteoporosis, but a 6-month study
showed no statistical benefit over placebo.
Other: Growing evidence suggests that DHEA might be helpful
for depression. The largest study involved 145 people with HIV/AIDS
as well as mild depression. Over a period of eight weeks, use of DHEA at a dose
of up to 400 mg daily significantly improved symptoms as compared to placebo (Rabkin, Am J Psychiatry 2006). A much smaller
study found it possibly helpful for midlife onset of major and minor depression.
According to two studies by a single research group, DHEA may enhance the
effectiveness and reduce the side effects of medications used for treatment
of schizophrenia.
According to some but not all studies, in women with adrenal failure DHEA may
help improve mood and bone density when used
in conjunction with standard hormone replacement therapy. DHEA has also shown
promise as an additional hormonal treatment in pituitary failure.
There is preliminary evidence that DHEA might also be helpful in chronic
fatigue syndrome (Himmel, J Clin Rhematol
1999).
Most studies of DHEA in athletic performance and as a weight
loss aid have not shown a benefit — although DHEA remains banned from
use in Olympic athletes and in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
7-keto DHEA (a metabolite of DHEA that can not be
converted into estrogen or testosterone) may have application in weight loss,
although the evidence is preliminary (see Product
Review of Supplements for Weight Loss and Diabetes Management).
There is evidence that DHEA could potentially contribute to plaque formation in
arteries. See the ConsumerTips™ section
of this review for more information about suggested dosage and concerns and
cautions.
Quality Concerns and
Tests Performed:
Previous
tests of DHEA supplements by ConsumerLab.com identified products that did not
contain their listed amounts of DHEA. In 2006, ConsumerLab.com identified a
product that contained more than double its listed amount of DHEA. In 2002,
ConsumerLab.com found three products which contained less DHEA than claimed.
Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests
supplements for quality prior to sale. Consequently, ConsumerLab.com again
tested DHEA products to determine if they contained the amounts of DHEA listed
on their labels and were not contaminated with lead, cadmium or arsenic.
Tablets and caplets were also tested to be sure that they could disintegrate
properly for absorption (See Testing Methods and Passing Score for
more information).
What CL Found:
All five DHEA supplements which ConsumerLab.com selected for
testing contained their claimed amounts of DHEA, did not exceed limits for
lead, cadmium and arsenic contamination, and, if a tablet or caplet,
disintegrated properly. An additional 5 products evaluated through ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program also passed
these tests. As noted in the first two columns of the results table below, most
of the products provide between 25 and 50 mg of DHEA per recommended daily
serving. However, a few provide much less, or much more: One serving of Country
Life DHEA, for example, provides 10 mg, while AST Sport Science
DHEA provides between 100 to 200 mg per its listed
suggested daily serving size of 1 to 2 capsules (See What to Consider When Using for more
about dosage).
The cost to obtain 25 mg of DHEA, as shown in the last column of the results
table below, ranged from just 5 cents to 30 cents. This seems like a wide
variation, considering that none of the products contain added ingredients
which would account for the difference in price. Products claiming to be free
of wheat, gluten and/or yeast were not necessarily more expensive.
Top Picks Among Approved Products
To get a moderate dose of DHEA, the following products were Approved for
Quality by ConsumerLab.com and provided good value.
·
Vitacost DHEA. Each capsule provides
25 mg DHEA and costs 5 cents. This product claims to be gluten-free.
·
Finest Nutrition DHEA (Walgreens). Each tablet
provides 25 mg DHEA and costs 6 cents. It claims to be free of wheat, gluten
and yeast.
If you are looking for a
high-dose product, one capsule of AST Sport Science DHEA provides
100 mg of DHEA, costing 31 cents. Be aware of potential risks of high-dose DHEA
(see Concerns and Cautions)
Country Life DHEA was the only product labeled as suitable for
vegans, but is more expensive, costing 12 cents per 10 mg capsule.
Test Results by Product:
Listed
alphabetically below are the test results for ten DHEA products.
ConsumerLab.com selected five. Five others (each indicated with a CL flask)
were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors through CL's
voluntary Quality Certification Program and are
included for having passed testing. Also listed are two products similar to
another that passed testing but are sold under a different brand name.
Shown for each product is the labeled amount of DHEA per unit, the daily
serving size, the expected amount of DHEA per day, and the cost per 25 mg of
DHEA. The full list of ingredients is available for each product by clicking on
the word "Ingredients" in the first column.
|
RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF DHEA SUPPLEMENTS |
|||||||
|
Product Name, Amount
of DHEA per Unit, Serving Size, and Suggested Daily Serving on Label |
Claimed Amount of
DHEA Per Suggested Daily Serving on Label |
--TEST RESULTS-- |
Cost for Daily
Suggested Serving on Label |
||||
|
OVERALL RESULTS: |
Contained Listed
Amounts of DHEA |
Did Not Exceed
Contamination Limits for Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic |
Disintegrated
Properly |
||||
|
|
100 mg to 200 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.31-$0.61 |
|
|
|
10 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.12 |
|
|
|
25 mg to 50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.17-$0.34 |
|
|
|
50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
|
$0.11 |
|
|
|
50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.22 |
|
|
|
25 mg to 75 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.12-$0.36 |
|
|
|
25 mg to 50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
|
$0.09-$0.18 |
|
|
|
12.5 mg to 50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
|
$0.12-$0.50 |
|
|
|
50 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
|
$0.23 |
|
|
|
25 mg |
APPROVED |
|
|
NA |
$0.05 |
|
|
Similar to Tested Products**: |
|||||||
|
Puritan's Pride® DHEA 25 mg (25 mg per tablet;
1 tablet, once daily) |
Similar to Nature's Bounty® DHEA. |
$0.10 |
|||||
|
Vitamin World® DHEA 25 mg (25 mg per tablet; 1
tablet, once to twice daily) |
Similar to Nature's Bounty® DHEA. |
$0.12-$0.24 |
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products
listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for
this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label
information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating
the products you use or buy. If a product's
ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of
the same quality as what was tested. |
|||||||
|
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2015. All rights reserved.
Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express
written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC. |
|||||||
ConsumerTips™:
What to
Consider When Buying:
The labeled amount of DHEA in products may vary considerably. Among products
evaluated in this review, labeled amounts ranged from 10 mg to 100 mg per pill.
Be careful to purchase a product that will conveniently provide the appropriate
dose for the intended use. Do not confuse 7-Keto DHEA, with DHEA, as they are
different compounds and have different biologic activities.
Although not present in the current selection of products, ConsumerLab.com has
come across DHEA products in the past containing "Bioperine"
a purported bioavailability-enhancing phytonutrient from Piper nigrum fruit
(black pepper). The manufacturer of Bioperine claims
that it increases the absorption of certain supplement ingredients. However,
ConsumerLab.com was not able to find research supporting its ability to
specifically increase DHEA absorption.
Although now seldom found, some DHEA products may claim to contain bovine (cow)
adrenal gland concentrate. Due to concerns relating to Mad Cow Disease (bovine
spongiform encephalopathy) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, you
should avoid products made from cow glands unless you can be certain that
animal source was free of infection — which is difficult to ascertain.
What to Consider When Using:
Dosage:
·
In adrenal insufficiency: 50 mg daily, along with standard
therapy.
·
In normalizing aging skin: 50 mg daily.
·
In pituitary insufficiency: 50 mg daily, along with standard
therapy.
·
In sexual dysfunction: 50 mg daily.
·
In osteoporosis to improve bone mineral density: 25 to 50 mg
daily, along with vitamin D and calcium.
·
In schizophrenia to augment the effectiveness of medication: 100
mg daily.
·
In lupus (SLE): 200 mg daily as an adjunct to conventional
therapy. Higher doses have also been used.
·
In depression: 100 to 450 mg daily, along with standard therapy.
Results of a small,
preliminary study with a cream containing 10% DHEA used vaginally in a dose of
3 to 5 grams daily in postmenopausal women for one year suggested that it
increased bone density in the hip and had a stimulatory effect on vaginal
epithelium but did not affect the endometrial lining of the uterus (Labrie, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997).
Concerns and Cautions:
At
doses up to 50 mg daily, DHEA appears to be generally safe, at least in the
short term. However, you should be aware of the following potential side
effects and drug interactions:
·
Some (but not all) studies have found that DHEA, even at the low
dose of 25 mg per day, may decrease levels of HDL ("good")
cholesterol. And a report in 2003 suggested that DHEA might increase the
formation of certain cells ("foam cells") known to contribute to
plaque formation in blood vessels — potentially raising a person's risk of
heart disease.
·
DHEA may increase testosterone levels in women, leading to acne,
hair loss, voice deepening, and changes in menstrual pattern in some women.
Rare cases of liver dysfunction, abdominal pain, hypertension, insomnia and
arrhythmia have also been reported. There have been rare cases of mania
reported — although sometimes not occurring until after months of use.
·
Women with hormone-sensitive diseases such as breast cancer
should use DHEA with caution, as it can be converted into estrogen. There is
also concern that long term and/or high-dose use might increase the risk of
breast cancer.
·
Associations have also been found between higher DHEA levels and
both prostate cancer and ovarian cancer.
·
DHEA might, in theory, increase blood levels of any of the many
hundreds of medications that are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A.
·
DHEA might potentially increase insulin resistance or,
conversely, insulin sensitivity. Blood glucose should be monitored by diabetics
using DHEA.
·
Safety in pregnant or nursing women or people with severe liver
or kidney disease has not been established.
·
Use of DHEA is banned by the International Olympic Committee and
the National Basketball Association because of its potential use as a performance
enhancer and its potential conversion into other steroid-like compounds.
Information on this site
is provided for informational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of any
product nor is it meant to substitute for the advice provided by physicians or
other healthcare professionals. The information contained herein should not be
used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Consumers should
inform their healthcare providers of the dietary supplements they take.