Ah, DHEA.
It is one of those hormones that has grown on me more and more the longer I have studied it.
And I want you to know something important: it is radically important that you give this to your patients, especially your seasoned ones.
One of My Favorite Studies on DHEA
One of my favorite randomized controlled trials on DHEA was published way back in 2004.
I was 14 years old at the time, but the findings still stand out to this day.
It was a small study, but because it was an RCT, the signal was strong and the results were powerful.
Researchers gave both men and women 50 mg of DHEA per day for six months.
They measured two things:
- Visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat using MRI
- Glucose and insulin sensitivity using an oral glucose tolerance test
They focused on these markers because visceral and subcutaneous fat tend to build up with age and are directly linked to three of the most common modern killers:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
The Problem with Aging and DHEA Decline
The researchers noted that DHEA levels drop significantly after age 25 and even more sharply after 40.
That decline contributes to fat gain, metabolic slowdown, and loss of muscle tone.
We have known from animal studies for decades that DHEA plays a massive role in fat metabolism.
Think of your body like a factory with two teams: one that burns fat for energy and one that stores it.
PPAR is the master control switch that powers up the fat-burning machines.
DHEA acts like the key that turns on PPAR, boosting fat burning while slowing down fat storage.
Pretty amazing, right?
What the Study Found
The results were nothing short of incredible.
- Men lost an average of 10 percent visceral fat
- Women lost an average of 7 percent visceral fat
- Insulin sensitivity improved by 34 percent
And here’s the kicker: the average serum DHEA-S level reached about 3,600 ng/mL.
There were zero adverse effects.
What This Teaches Us About Lab Levels
This should make you question the concept of “optimal” lab ranges.
The truth is, lab values are reference points, not finish lines.
And it reinforces one of the core principles we teach inside HRT University:
Hormone replacement therapy is not a one-to-one match with endogenous production or processing.
In other words, we are not trying to mimic the body’s declining hormone output as people age. We are trying to restore function, energy, and quality of life.
How to Think About DHEA Clinically
Now, I am not saying you should give 50 mg of DHEA daily to younger men or women.
Context always matters.
In the Adjunct Hormone Section of the HRTU Master Course, I go into this in detail — when to use DHEA, how to monitor it, and how to integrate it safely.
But here is the main takeaway: DHEA is not just an “add-on” for older patients.
It is foundational.
It is safe.
It is effective.
And it plays a crucial role in improving metabolism, body composition, and overall vitality.
Conclusion: DHEA Deserves a Place in Every HRT Protocol
Supporting DHEA is not about chasing numbers. It is about supporting metabolism and cellular energy at the deepest level.
When you restore DHEA, you are improving fat metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function — the same systems that start to slow with age.
If you want to learn how to use DHEA safely and effectively, the Adjunct Hormone section of the HRTU Master Course will show you exactly how to do it.
This hormone is not optional. It is essential.
