Healthy aging: Over 50 (25)
- DHEA: Evidence for anti-aging claims is weak
- Easy bruising: Common as you age
- Human growth hormone (HGH): Does it slow aging?
- see all in Healthy aging: Over 50
Healthy retirement (6)
- Fall prevention: 6 tips to prevent falls
- Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory
- Older drivers: 7 tips for driver safety
- see all in Healthy retirement
Dependent seniors (5)
- Home care services: Questions to ask
- Alzheimer's disease
- Adult day service: What you need to know
- see all in Dependent seniors
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
DHEA: Evidence for anti-aging claims is weak
What are the side effects of DHEA?
Some studies of DHEA have linked the supplement to:
- Reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol levels
- Increased facial hair in women
- Acne
Long-term adverse effects of DHEA are still being researched. Because DHEA can, in theory, raise testosterone and estrogen levels, there's some concern that long-term or excessive use of DHEA supplements could increase the risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers.
What do you tell people who want to try DHEA?
DHEA supplementation doesn't have proven benefits in older adults and might cause adverse side effects. Don't take DHEA to prevent, delay or reverse age-related changes in your body. Instead, remember that there's no substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, include physical activity in your daily routine, and seek regular health screenings.
Previous page(2 of 2)
- Chrousos GP. Dehyrdoepiandrosterone and its sulfate. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2011.
- Baker WL, et al. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on muscle strength and physical function in older adults: A systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2011;59:997.
- Sorwell KG, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone and age-related cognitive decline. Age. 2010;32:61.
- Nair KS, et al. DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:1647.
- Igwebuike A, et al. Lack of dehydroepiandrosterone effect on a combined endurance and exercise resistance program in postmenopausal women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008;93:534.
- Weiss EP, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in older adults: 1- and 2-y effects on bone. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009;89:1459.
- Jankowski CM, et al. Increases in bone mineral density in response to oral dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in older adults appear to be mediated by serum estrogens. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008;93:4767.
- Davis SR, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are associated with more favorable cognitive function in women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008;93:801.
- DHEA. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 19, 2011.
- Arnold JT, et al. Does DHEA exert direct effects on androgen and estrogen receptors, and does it promote or prevent prostate cancer? Endocrinology. 2005;146:4565.
Find Mayo Clinic on