DHEA

What are the Benefits of DHEA?

Aging and Hormone Balance

DHEA levels naturally decline with age for both women and men. As a precursor hormone, DHEA therapy can support overall hormonal balance because it is able to convert to testosterone and estradiol. Age-related progressive decline of DHEA can be detrimental, particularly for women. Once women hit menopause, their DHEA secretion has diminished by over 50% – these deficient populations will stay deficient without DHEA support. DHEA therapy can promote energy, immune function, and metabolic stability.

Women’s Health

DHEA for women may play a role in supplying estrogen and testosterone, providing roughly 75% of estrogen pre‑menopause and nearly 100% after menopause. Adequate levels may support mood, libido, vaginal tissue health, and overall hormonal wellness. Vaginal DHEA cream may be used for localized hormone support, particularly in vulvovaginal tissues where DHEA can be converted into estradiol.

Men’s Health

DHEA for men contributes to a portion of circulating androgens and may support vitality, mood, and body composition. It also serves as a precursor for testosterone production in peripheral tissues and can benefit the brain, muscle, and bone.

Stress, Cortisol Balance, and Metabolic Support

DHEA helps to counterbalance cortisol, a stress hormone. Low DHEA combined with high cortisol has been linked to fatigue, increased abdominal fat, blood‑sugar instability, and metabolic changes. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with DHEA may support cortisol balance and metabolic function.

Cognitive, Immune, and Skin Health

DHEA can support memory, protect neural tissue from cortisol‑related damage, and influence the immune response. DHEA may also promote skin hydration, collagen maintenance, and overall skin vitality.

What are bioidentical hormones?

Bioidentical hormones, predominantly isolated from plant materials, have the exact chemical and molecular structure as hormones made in the human body. Bioidentical steroid hormones like DHEA are designed to bind to the same receptors and undergo similar enzymatic breakdown. Dose and delivery route are essential to activity, which is why compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) offers distinctive options that maximize therapeutic use.

Access clinical studies on DHEA

• Samaras N, Papadopoulou MA, Samaras D, Ongaro F. Off-label use of hormones as an antiaging strategy: a review. Clin Interv Aging. 2014 Jul 23;9:1175-86. 
• Sahu P, Gidwani B, Dhongade HJ. Pharmacological activities of dehydroepiandrosterone: A review. Steroids. 2020 Jan;153:108507. 
• Yousefi B, Rastin M, Hatef MR, et al. In vitro modulatory effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related genes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.  J Cell Physiol, 2018; doi: 10.1002/jcp.27878.
• Holroyd CR, Edwards CJ. The effects of hormone replacement therapy on autoimmune disease: rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Climacteric. 2009 Oct;12(5):378-86.
• Wang J, Wang L. The therapeutic effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on vulvovaginal atrophy. Pharmacol Res. 2021 Apr;166:105509
• Riepl M. Compounding to Prevent and Treat Dysbiosis of the Human Vaginal Microbiome. Int J Pharm Compd. 2018 Nov-Dec;22(6):456-465.
• Labrie F, Archer D, Bouchard C, et al.  Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (prasterone), a highly efficient treatment of dyspareunia.  Climacteric, 2011; 14(2):282-288.
• Labrie F, Archer DF, Koltun W et al. Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on moderate to severe dyspareunia and vaginal dryness, symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, and of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.  Menopause, 2018; 25(11):1339-1353.
• Villareal D, Holloszy J.  Effect of DHEA on Abdominal Fat and Insulin Action in Elderly Women and Men. JAMA, 2004; 292(18):2243.
• Santoro N, Roeca C, Peters BA, Neal-Perry G. The Menopause Transition: Signs, Symptoms, and Management Options. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 1;106(1):1-15. 
• Gandhi J, Chen A, Dagur G, Suh Y, Smith N, Cali B, Khan SA. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: an overview of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, and management. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Dec;215(6):704-711. 
• Faubion SS, Sood R, Kapoor E. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Management Strategies for the Clinician. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Dec;92(12):1842-1849.
• Bramwell BL. The clinical use of dehydroepiandrosterone in postmenopausal women. Int J Pharm Compd. 2010 Nov-Dec;14(6):465-71.

Access package inserts for DHEA Compound