Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) replacement in postmenopausal women: Present status and future promise

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.