Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDHEA BenefitsDHEA and Erectile DysfunctionResearchRisks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
DHEA Benefits
DHEA and Erectile Dysfunction
Research
Risks
However, DHEA benefits for men are hotly contested as there is little scientific support for this. Some small studies suggest that DHEA may help stimulate testosterone production and offer a range of benefits, but just as many have reported the opposite.
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Is DHEA the Same as Testosterone?No, DHEA is a precursor to testosterone.
Is DHEA the Same as Testosterone?
No, DHEA is a precursor to testosterone.
Benefits
Taking DHEA to increase testosterone production might offer the following benefits, although data is mixed and limited:
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements notes that there is no research that supports taking DHEA supplements to enhance exercise or athletic performance.The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list it as a banned substance.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements notes that there is no research that supports taking DHEA supplements to enhance exercise or athletic performance.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list it as a banned substance.
Is DHEA Good for Erectile Dysfunction?
Some proponents suggest that taking DHEA to increase testosterone production can help treaterectile dysfunction (ED). In addition, DHEA is often touted as an alternative totestosterone replacement therapy.
However, research suggests that testosterone replacement therapy is a more effective therapy than DHEA for:
Research on DHEA and Testosterone in Men
Studies done on whether taking DHEA can increase testosterone are often limited with varying results. Some examples include the following:
DHEA Supplement Warnings
While little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of DHEA supplements to increase testosterone, many side effects are associated with them. These side effects include:
Taking DHEA supplements in high doses for extended periods of time is not recommended. DHEA supplements should only be taken under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider, with hormone levels being checked regularly.
Additionally, there’s some concern that DHEA supplements may be harmful to people with conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease, as well as those with or at risk for hormone-sensitive conditions likeprostate cancer. DHEA may also interact with certain medications.
General Supplement Safety
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for independently verified products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Keep in mind that supplements haven’t been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated.
While consumers face such risks when purchasing any dietary supplement, these risks may be of greater magnitude when buying products containing a variety of ingredients and marketed for bodybuilding or weight loss.
Summary
DHEA is a steroid hormone that is available as a supplement. DHEA supplements are taken for a variety of reasons, including increasing testosterone levels.
DHEA supplements come with the risk of side effects and research on taking these supplements is limited. While some studies suggest that these supplements can increase testosterone and offer various benefits, others note the opposite.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.DHEA.El-Sakka AI.Dehydroepiandrosterone and Erectile Function: A Review.World J Mens Health. 2018;36(3):183-191. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180005National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Walther A, Seuffert J.Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment in Ageing Men: Are We All Set?World J Mens Health. 2020;38(2):178-190. doi:10.5534/wjmh.190006Li Y, Ren J, Li N, et al.A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol. 2020;141:111110. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111110
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.DHEA.El-Sakka AI.Dehydroepiandrosterone and Erectile Function: A Review.World J Mens Health. 2018;36(3):183-191. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180005National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Walther A, Seuffert J.Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment in Ageing Men: Are We All Set?World J Mens Health. 2020;38(2):178-190. doi:10.5534/wjmh.190006Li Y, Ren J, Li N, et al.A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol. 2020;141:111110. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111110
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.DHEA.El-Sakka AI.Dehydroepiandrosterone and Erectile Function: A Review.World J Mens Health. 2018;36(3):183-191. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180005National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.Walther A, Seuffert J.Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment in Ageing Men: Are We All Set?World J Mens Health. 2020;38(2):178-190. doi:10.5534/wjmh.190006Li Y, Ren J, Li N, et al.A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol. 2020;141:111110. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111110
MedlinePlus.DHEA.
El-Sakka AI.Dehydroepiandrosterone and Erectile Function: A Review.World J Mens Health. 2018;36(3):183-191. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180005
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance.
Walther A, Seuffert J.Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment in Ageing Men: Are We All Set?World J Mens Health. 2020;38(2):178-190. doi:10.5534/wjmh.190006
Li Y, Ren J, Li N, et al.A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol. 2020;141:111110. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111110
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