The Safety of 52 Weeks of Oral DHEA Therapy for Postmenopausal Women

May 2009 in “ Maturitas ”

Mary Panjari, Robin Jean Bell, Fiona Jane, Jenny Adams, Corallee Morrow, Susan Ruth Davis

DHEA androgenic side effects acne increased facial hair endometrium postmenopausal women dehydroepiandrosterone

TLDR Taking DHEA for a year is generally safe for postmenopausal women but may cause acne and more facial hair without improving metabolism or aging.

In a study from 2009 involving 93 postmenopausal women over a 52-week period, a daily oral dose of 50 mg DHEA was tested for safety and its impact on sexual function, lipid profile, insulin-glucose homeostasis, and the endometrium. The study concluded that DHEA did not significantly affect blood lipids, insulin resistance, or the endometrium, although androgenic side effects like acne and increased facial hair were observed in the DHEA group. No cases of voice deepening or alopecia were reported. The study suggested that DHEA does not have metabolic benefits or adverse effects, challenging the idea of DHEA as an "anti-ageing" supplement for postmenopausal women, but also noted that the duration may have been too short to confirm endometrial safety, and the study was not sufficiently powered to definitively assess this endpoint.

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Research cited in this study

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Methodology and Challenges to Recruitment to a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral DHEA in Postmenopausal Women

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