As with many physiologic processes in the body, DHEA production declines with age.  These levels are at a peak in early adulthood and reach a nadir at about age 70 (10-20% of peak levels).  Proponents of DHEA supplementation tout many advantages to increasing these levels.  These potential benefits include:

• Reversing or slowing the aging process (3)

• Enhancement of mental function (4,5)

• Improvement of muscle strength/mass (6)

• Improvements in cardiovascular health (7)

• Strengthening of immune function (8)

• Prevention of osteoporosis (9)

• Treatment of autoimmune disease (e.g. Lupus) (10,11)

• Improved mental function in patients with HIV (12)

• Enhanced effectiveness of an HIV medication known as AZT (Zidovudine) (12)

• Alleviation of symptoms of menopause (13)

Although most well-designed studies show equivocal results with the use of DHEA in these diseases, a few have shown some substantial benefits.  These include use in anorexia, osteoperosis prevention (in elderly women only), and in schizophrenia (10).  It should be noted that these were well-designed studies, but larger and more numerous studies need to be done before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.