Supplement
DHEA
Reliably raises sex hormones with age; the longevity payoff is unproven.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal prohormone that declines steeply with age. We grade DHEA C+ on evidence and C+ for worth-it at about $8-15 per month.
Evidence
Worth it
Typical cost: $8-15/month
What it does
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal prohormone that declines steeply with age. The body converts it into testosterone and estradiol as needed, which is why supplementation reliably raises both, especially in older adults with low baseline levels.
What the research says
Raises testosterone and estradiol in postmenopausal women
Evidence: strong. A 2025 meta-analysis of 21 RCTs found DHEA at 50 mg+/day significantly raised testosterone (+24 ng/dL) and estradiol (+7.9 pg/mL); doses under 50 mg/day showed no significant testosterone effect. Heterogeneity was very high.
May improve bone density and body composition in older adults
Evidence: emerging. Some RCTs report small gains in bone mineral density and lean mass in older adults, but results are inconsistent and no fracture-outcome data exist.
Extends healthspan or lifespan
Evidence: weak. No human trial has tested DHEA against longevity or healthspan outcomes. The entire longevity case is extrapolated from hormone levels, which is exactly the biomarker trap our methodology penalizes.
It does what it says pharmacologically: DHEA reliably becomes sex hormones in the body. But raising a biomarker is not the same as improving an outcome, and nothing in the human record shows DHEA extends healthspan. C+ reflects a real drug effect with an unproven longevity story.
What the experts say
Every position links to its source. We include skeptics alongside supporters.
Peter Attia
Has discussed DHEA cautiously in the context of hormone optimization; specific graded position not verified.
Is it worth it?
Evidence (C+) sits below the leaderboard floor, so the worth-it grade is capped at C+ however inexpensive it is. About $11.5 a month at a common dose. Derived from the October 2026 worth-it model.
Typical cost
$8-15/month
Common form, not a brand recommendation
Dosage contextemerging
Trials showing hormone effects used 50 mg/day; lower doses (25 mg) often show no significant effect. Dosing should be titrated to bloodwork under clinician supervision.
Safety notes
Converts to sex hormones, so it can cause acne, hair changes, and voice deepening, especially in women at higher doses. May raise PSA in men. Contraindicated with hormone-sensitive cancers. Requires baseline and follow-up bloodwork (DHEA-S, testosterone, estradiol) and clinician supervision; do not self-dose.
Longevity Lab Report
DHEA news, graded when it happens.
The grade on this page stays free. The reporting goes further in the email: new studies, dose debates, and expert shifts on dhea, including stories that never get posted here.
Frequently asked questions
Is DHEA safe?
Converts to sex hormones, so it can cause acne, hair changes, and voice deepening, especially in women at higher doses. May raise PSA in men. Contraindicated with hormone-sensitive cancers. Requires baseline and follow-up bloodwork (DHEA-S, testosterone, estradiol) and clinician supervision; do not self-dose.
What is the right dose of DHEA?
Trials showing hormone effects used 50 mg/day; lower doses (25 mg) often show no significant effect. Dosing should be titrated to bloodwork under clinician supervision.
Is DHEA worth taking?
We grade DHEA C+ for worth-it at a typical cost of $8-15 per month. Evidence (C+) sits below the leaderboard floor, so the worth-it grade is capped at C+ however inexpensive it is. About $11.5 a month at a common dose. Derived from the October 2026 worth-it model.
Changelog
Last updated 2026-10-17
- 2026-10-16|New DRAFT entry, batch 3.
- 2026-10-17|Worth-it grade derived from the October 2026 worth-it model (same gated model as the leaderboard); applicability recorded for all records.