Abstract
Objective: Age-related declines in dehydroepiandroserone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) have been postulated to aggravate some diseases of the elderly. As a result, DHEA supplementation is often touted as the "fountain of youth" and is being used widely in an unregulated fashion, without evidence of efficacy or safety. Design: Review of the English-language literature. This review addresses DHEA replacement, touching on issues of bioavailability and possible beneficial effects. Safety concerns are also addressed. Conclusions: At present, we believe that DHEA replacement is not suitable for widespread clinical use; however, the potential for future hormonal therapy of aging with this compound is such that further investigation is certainly warranted.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 225-231 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Menopause |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adrenal androgens
- Aging
- DHEA
- DHEA replacement
- DHEA-S
- Hormonal replacement
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology