DHEA levels are raised in CFS and correlate with the degree of self-reported disability. Hydrocortisone therapy leads to a reduction in these levels towards normal, and an increased DHEA response to CRH, most marked in those who show a clinical response to this therapy.” On the other hand, there have been a number of recent studies that have investigated the role of DHEA supplementation in patients with adrenal insufficiency. In this condition, DHEA(-S) levels appear to be reduced in parallel to the reduction in cortisol, and replacement therapy with DHEA appears to give additional benefits over and above that seen with cortisol replacement (Arlt et al., 1999; Hunt et al., 2000). It is also of interest to note the recent literature regarding the importance of the cortisol/DHEA ratio in major depression, where an emerging literature suggests that it is a high cortisol/DHEA ratio that may be the most important indicator of excessive physiological effects of cortisol on the brain (Goodyer et al., 2001; Young et al., 2002). In other words, either low DHEA or high cortisol could contribute to the excess cortisol effect on the brain.” Hydrocortisone may reduce elevated DHEA in chronic fatigue patients. On the other hand, low DHEA in adrenal insufficiency may improve with DHEA supplementation.
Restoring DHEA and DS to young adult levels in men and women of advancing age induced an increase in the bioavailability of IGF-I, as reflected by an increase in IGF-I and a decrease in IGFBP-1 levels. These observations together with improvement of physical and psychological well-being in both genders and the absence of side-effects
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) decrease with aging and are important androgen and estrogen precursors in older adults. Declines in DHEAS with aging may contribute to physiological changes that are sex hormone dependent… DHEA replacement therapy for 1 yr improved hip BMD in older adults and spine BMD in older women.
Hormone Precursor - DHEA decreases with age and replacement may help mitigate the effects of age-related physical decline through its role as a precursor to androgens and estrogens. “[T]he present study demonstrates that 25 mg/day of DHEA is able to cause significant changes in the hormonal profile and clinical symptoms and can counteract the age-related decline of endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. Restoring DHEA levels to young adult values seems to benefit the age-related decline in physiological functions but, however promising, placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these preliminary results.”
DHEA has been studied for its affects on stress adaptation. “Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid with anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antiglucocorticoid properties. It is endogenously released in response to stress, and may reduce negative affect when administered exogenously.”
