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DHEA supplements are used by some people who believe they can improve sex drive, build muscle, fight the effects of aging, and improve some health conditions. But there isn't much evidence for many of these claims. And the supplements have some risks.

What Is DHEA?
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced by your body's adrenal glands. These are glands just above your kidneys.

DHEA supplements can be made from wild yam or soy. Scientists don't know everything DHEA does. But they do know that it functions as a precursor to male and female sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Precursors are substances that are converted by the body into a hormone. DHEA production peaks in your mid-20s. In most people, production gradually declines with age.

Possible side effects include:

  • Permanent stunting of growth
  • Aggressive behavior, known as "road rage"
  • Mood swings and other psychological symptoms
  • Higher blood pressure
  • Liver problems
  • Changes in cholesterol level

Since DHEA can increase the level of both testosterone and estrogen, women who use DHEA can sometimes experience such permanent side effects as:

  • Voice changes
  • Hair loss
  • Growth of facial hair

Men can sometimes experience such symptoms as:

  • Breast enlargement
  • Shrunken testicles
  • Reduced sperm production

DHEA can interact with some other meds.
e.g. Anastrozole (Arimidex) used to help lower estrogen levels in the body for women with breast cancer. DHEA may increase estrogen.
Source: DHEA Supplements: Uses and Side Effects | WebMD

DHEA is banned by the NCAA and many professional sports leagues.

DHEA: MedlinePlus Supplements - NIH says,
Possibly effective for: Aging skin, Depression.
Possibly ineffective for: Withdrawal symptoms, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis.
Likely ineffective for: Mental function, Dry mouth
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for:
Addison's disease , Adrenal insufficiency, Aging, Improving growth and maturation in girls with hormone deficiency (atrichia pubis), Abnormal cell growth on the cervix (cervical dysplasia), Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lung disease (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), Fibromyalgia, HIV/AIDS, Infertility, Inflammatory bowel disease, Inducing labor, Menopausal symptoms, Metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that put people at high risk for heart disease), Inherited condition with many symptoms including muscle wasting (myotonic dystrophy), Weak bones (osteoporosis), Hormone deficiency in men (partial androgen deficiency), Physical performance, Schizophrenia, Sexual dysfunction, Improving symptoms of lupus (SLE), Vaginal weakness (vaginal atrophy), Weight loss, Heart disease, Breast cancer, Diabetes, Parkinson's disease.
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last updated 10 Dec 2014