How DHEA Benefits Health

Boosts Muscle Strength

Male patients could see improvements in their muscle strength with the use of DHEA supplements. In 1998, a group of endocrinologists at the University of California in San Diego followed one hundred male and female subjects in their fifties. Each patient took one hundred milligrams of DHEA daily for three months. After the study, there were slight improvements in muscle strength for male patients. However, females in the study experienced no increase in their muscle strength. Other studies have not been able to replicate these results. A study conducted by researchers Villareal and Holloszy that was published in 2006 determined DHEA supplements can boost muscle strength when combined with strength training. During the first six months of the study, half of the participants took fifty milligrams of DHEA before bedtime, and the others took a placebo. Strength training was not completed during this period. During the second six months of research, participants performed nine different strength-training exercises three days a week, and they continued to take the DHEA supplements or the placebo. Significant improvements in leg and chest muscle strength were noted after the second six months in the patients who took DHEA while doing strength training. The supplements increased muscle mass in the legs as well.

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May Benefit Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that increases the likelihood of heart disease. The risk factors include high blood pressure, a large waist circumference, and elevated blood glucose and cholesterol. Studies indicate DHEA supplements may benefit metabolic syndrome. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation followed fifty-six subjects over two and a half years. All of the participants had low levels of DHEA at the beginning of the study. DHEA levels increased in the treatment group over the research period, and the study authors observed reductions in abdominal fat in these patients. The authors noted this reduction could help to protect the patients from insulin resistance. Larger studies are needed to see if these results can be replicated. Individuals concerned about metabolic syndrome should see their doctor for an evaluation. DHEA supplementation should only be considered if blood tests confirm the patient has low levels of DHEA.