DHEA for Health & Longevity - Quick Reference Sheet
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DHEA for Health & Longevity

Created on 09/09/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 5 – Audit

A hormone the glands above the kidneys make early in life and steadily less thereafter. It works where those glands truly cannot make it, and where it is placed directly in vaginal tissue after menopause. Swallowed capsules in healthy older adults have repeatedly failed on strength, function and memory. Drawbacks: acne, unwanted hair growth, lower protective cholesterol in women. (Full Review)

Protocol

Standard replacement dose
25–50 mg orally each morning
The range used in almost every longevity trial. For replacement rather than pharmacology, 10–25 mg in women and 25–50 mg in men.
Best time of day
Morning, on waking
Mirrors the adrenal secretion peak and limits the sleep disruption reported with evening dosing.
Baseline biomarkers that drive the protocol
DHEA-S first
DHEA-S determines whether to treat at all; HDL cholesterol and PSA determine the ceiling; baseline testosterone and estradiol determine the direction of conversion.
Time to effect
Mood
4–8 weeks
Blood levels normalise within days, but endpoints lag.
Sexual function & skin
3–6 months
Sexual-function and skin changes emerge together in this window; libido has the most consistent trial support.
Bone density
12 months
Not measurable before 12 months; the density gain appeared in women, not men.

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Anti-estrogens (tamoxifen, fulvestrant, anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane)
  • Current or previous hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, endometrial, ovarian, prostate), including prostate cancer under active surveillance or a PSA above 4 ng/mL
  • Men with untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia and an International Prostate Symptom Score above 19
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Anyone under 30 with normal adrenal function
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Competitive athletes governed by anti-doping rules (prohibited at all times)
  • Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
    •
Key Interactions
  • Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel, aspirin)
  • Insulin and sulfonylureas (glipizide, glimepiride)
  • Corticosteroids (prednisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone)
  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, grapefruit juice)
  • Over-the-counter medications (cimetidine, high-dose ibuprofen or naproxen)
  • Supplement interactions (soy isoflavones)
  • Additive androgen and estrogen supplements (pregnenolone, 7-keto-DHEA, Tribulus, boron, testosterone or estrogen therapy)
  • Other interventions (resistance training and sauna)
    •

Risk & Side Effects

  • High: Androgenic skin and hair effects; reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; application-site discharge with the intravaginal route
  • Medium:
  • Low: Unintended rise in estradiol and testosterone; disturbed glucose handling; mood activation, irritability and insomnia; suppression of circulating cortisol; stimulation of hormone-sensitive cancers
  • Speculative: Increased bleeding risk alongside anticoagulants; palpitations and irregular heartbeat

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
DHEA-S Women 275–400 µg/dL; men 350–500 µg/dL Confirms a genuine deficit and prevents overshoot
Total and free testosterone Women 30–50 ng/dL total; men 500–800 ng/dL total The main conversion product in women
Estradiol Men 20–30 pg/mL; postmenopausal women below 30 pg/mL The main conversion product in men
HDL cholesterol Above 50 mg/dL in women, above 45 mg/dL in men The one lipid consistently lowered by oral DHEA
Fasting glucose and HbA1c Glucose 75–85 mg/dL; HbA1c 4.8–5.3% Detects the disputed effect on glucose handling
PSA (men over 40) Below 1.0 ng/mL at 40–50, below 2.0 ng/mL thereafter, rising less than 0.35 ng/mL per year DHEA raises the androgens that drive prostate tissue
ALT and AST Below 25 U/L in women, below 30 U/L in men Screens for hepatic strain
Hematocrit 38–46% in women, 40–50% in men Androgens can thicken the blood

Cadence: DHEA-S, sex hormones and lipids at 6–8 weeks, again at 3 months, then every 6–12 months once the dose is stable; prostate-specific antigen annually in men.

Qualitative Assessment

  • Morning energy and the point in the day at which fatigue arrives
  • Mood stability, irritability and motivation, rated weekly rather than daily
  • Sleep onset latency and night-time waking, which flag an excessive or mistimed dose
  • Libido and sexual satisfaction
  • Skin oiliness, acne and unwanted hair growth, the earliest sign of androgen excess
  • Skin hydration and texture
  • Recovery from training sessions and perceived exertion at a fixed workload
Not medical advice. Educational distillation of a single evidence review. Confirm any decision with a qualified clinician, especially in the presence of prescription drugs or chronic conditions.