DHEA: What It Is, What It Does, and Why It Matters After 40

DHEA: What It Is, What It Does, and Why It Matters After 40

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced by the adrenal glands and serves as the raw material your body uses to manufacture estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. It peaks in your mid-20s and declines steadily from there — by your 70s, levels are often less than 20% of what they were at their peak.

Because DHEA is upstream of your other sex hormones, supporting it can have broad downstream effects on energy, metabolism, immunity, cognition, and more.

Benefits of DHEA Optimization

• Improved mood and reduced depressive symptoms
• Enhanced immune function and antioxidant activity (with potential anti-cancer effects)
• Better insulin sensitivity and reduced diabetes risk
• Increased bone density and reduced osteoporosis risk
• Improved memory and cognitive function
• Lower abdominal body fat and cardiovascular risk (through improved lipid metabolism)
• Reduced fatigue and muscle weakness
• Potential significant benefit for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) — a pharmaceutical form of DHEA (prasterone) has received attention for SLE treatment

Who Should Consider It

Anyone over 40, anyone with confirmed low DHEA levels on labs, anyone with chronic disease, and particularly those with SLE. Because DHEA converts slightly to testosterone in women (but not men), women often experience noticeable energy and libido improvements.

Potential Side Effects

Acne is the most common side effect. Unwanted hair growth at the application site can also occur, particularly in women. If acne develops, the protocol is to pause DHEA, let it clear, restart at the same dose, and — if it recurs — gradually reduce frequency to every other day or lower the dose.

Who Should Not Use DHEA

Anyone with hormone-responsive cancers (breast, ovarian, uterine, or prostate).

How We Prescribe It

Over-the-counter DHEA is widely available but inconsistent in quality — many products are sourced internationally, have short half-lives requiring multiple daily doses, and vary significantly from their labeled amounts.

We prescribe pharmaceutical-grade, sustained-release micronized DHEA through a compounding pharmacy. This provides consistent absorption and stable levels over 24 hours. Typical dosing: 50–100 mg daily for men, 10–25 mg for women.

If you’re looking for more information about how DHEA might benefit your health, schedule a consultation.