DHEA Research
38 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 9/10
TEAS, DHEA, CoQ10, and GH for poor ovarian response undergoing IVF-ET: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Zhu F et al. • Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2023)
Compared with COS regimen, the adjuvant use of CoQ10, DHEA and GH before IVF may have a better clinical effect on the pregnancy outcome of POR patients.
- Compared with the control group, CoQ10 (OR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.71) and DHEA (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.16) had obvious advantages in improving the clinical pregnancy rate.
- CoQ10 was the best in improving the live birth rate (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.07 to 5.38).
- DHEA increased the embryo implantation rate (OR 2.80, 95%CI: 1.41 to 5.57) and the high-quality embryo rate (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07 to 3.78) and number of oocytes retrieved (WMD 1.63, 95% CI: 0.34 to 2.92) showed a greater advantage, with GH in second place.
Meta-analysis of the association between sex hormones and pulmonary fibrosis
Chen Y et al. • Postgraduate medicine (2024)
This meta-analysis indicates that reduced levels of DHEA-S, testosterone, estrogen may serve as potential risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis.
- This meta-analysis indicates that reduced levels of DHEA-S, testosterone, estrogen may serve as potential risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis.
- There is a pressing need for additional studies to confirm this association and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
- Clinicians should recognize the potential influence of sex hormones in the etiology of pulmonary fibrosis and consider this aspect during the patient management process.
The Role of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Improving in vitro Fertilization Outcome in Patients with DOR/POR: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis
Wang J et al. • Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening (2023)
Oral DHEA supplementation appears to improve some IVF outcomes.
- Oral DHEA supplementation appears to improve some IVF outcomes.
- On the basis of this limited evidence, we conclude that further studies are required to provide sufficient data.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
A systematic review of the impact of 7-keto-DHEA on body weight
Jeyaprakash N et al. • Archives of gynecology and obstetrics (2023)
This systematic-review examined the effects of DHEA.
- Half of them showed a significant reduction in body weight.
- One study found a decrease in body fat percentage and another one reported a decrease in BMI.
- No serious adverse effects were reported.
Adjuvant treatment strategies in ovarian stimulation for poor responders undergoing IVF: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Zhang Y et al. • Human reproduction update (2020)
Furthermore, high-level RCT studies using uniform standards for POR need to be incorporated into future meta-analyses.
- Meta-analysis examining CoQ10 efficacy
- Published in Human reproduction update (2020)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Testosterone, DHEA and DHEA-S in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Misiak B et al. • Psychoneuroendocrinology (2018)
All rights reserved.
- Effect size (ES) estimates were calculated as Hedges' g.
- Main analysis revealed elevated DHEA-S levels in the whole group of patients (ES = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.23-1.28, p = 0.005).
- In subgroup analyses, patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) had significantly higher levels of free testosterone (ES = 1.21, 95%CI: 0.30-2.12, p = 0.009) and DHEA-S (ES = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.66-1.71, p < 0.001).
Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Elraiyah T et al. • The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2014)
Evidence warranting low confidence suggests that DHEA administration does not significantly impact sexual symptoms or selected metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function.
- DHEA use was not associated with significant improvement in libido or sexual function (standardized mean difference, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, -0.02 to 0.73; P value = .06; I(2) = 62%).
- Evidence warranting low confidence suggests that DHEA administration does not significantly impact sexual symptoms or selected metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Therapeutic management in women with a diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Conforti A et al. • Fertility and sterility (2025)
Specific interventions such as testosterone seem to correlate with a better live birth rate in women with DOR; these findings should be further explored in randomized trials.
- Testosterone supplementation is associated with higher live birth rates compared with nonsupplemented women among all interventions evaluated (odds ratio: 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-4.32, four studies, 368 patients).
- Lower number of oocytes retrieved is achieved in women undergoing low dose gonadotropin regimen vs high dose (WMD: -1.57, 95% CI: -2.12 to -1.17; 2 studies, n = 905 patients), The other interventions did not produce significant improvements.
- Specific interventions such as testosterone seem to correlate with a better live birth rate in women with DOR; these findings should be further explored in randomized trials.
Sex Hormones, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin and Sleep Problems in Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jafar NKA et al. • Clinical endocrinology (2025)
SHBG, rather than hyperandrogenism, may play a more important mechanistic role for OSA in PCOS, while other sleep disturbances exhibit a less severe SHBG profile.
- Among females with PCOS, 46.0% had OSA and 56.0% had other sleep disturbances.
- SHBG, rather than hyperandrogenism, may play a more important mechanistic role for OSA in PCOS, while other sleep disturbances exhibit a less severe SHBG profile.
- These findings enhance comprehension of underlying pathophysiology of sleep problems in PCOS.
Dehydroepiandrosterone for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Peixoto C et al. • Journal of neuroscience research (2020)
However, these results should be viewed with caution, since the quality of evidence for this outcome was considered very low according to the GRADE criteria.© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
- No hormonal changes that indicated any risk to the participants' health were seen.
- Side effects observed were uncommon, mild, and transient, but commonly related to androgyny.
- In conclusion, DHEA was associated with a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms compared to placebo.
Nonestrogen Therapies for Treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review
Casiano Evans EA et al. • Obstetrics and gynecology (2023)
Most nonestrogen therapies are effective treatments for the various symptoms of GSM.
- Most nonestrogen therapies are effective treatments for the various symptoms of GSM.
- There are insufficient data to compare nonestrogen options to each other.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Efficacy of resveratrol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Ali Fadlalmola H et al. • The Pan African medical journal (2023)
In combination with other treatments, especially for hyperlipidemia, resveratrol is beneficial for women diagnosed with PCOS.Copyright: Hammad Ali Fadlalmola et al.
- With 95% confidence intervals, the data was retrieved and analyzed as a mean difference (MD) or a standardized mean difference (SMD).
- Resveratrol significantly reduced testosterone (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI [-0.71, -0.10], P = 0.009), luteinizing hormone (LH) (SMD = -0.32; 95% CI [-0.62, 0.01], P = 0.04), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (MD = -0.85; 95% CI [-1.25, -0.45], P < 0.0001) compared with the placebo.
- Four RCTs with 218 women were included in the analysis.
Anorexia nervosa and adrenal hormones: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Thavaraputta S et al. • European journal of endocrinology (2023)
Women with anorexia nervosa have higher cortisol levels and lower DHEA-S and testosterone levels compared to women without anorexia nervosa.
- Women with anorexia nervosa have higher cortisol levels and lower DHEA-S and testosterone levels compared to women without anorexia nervosa.
- This finding is important to consider when evaluating low-weight women for disorders involving the adrenal axis, especially Cushing's syndrome.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Hormonal Treatments and Vaginal Moisturizers for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause : A Systematic Review
Danan ER et al. • Annals of internal medicine (2024)
Vaginal estrogen, vaginal DHEA, oral ospemifene, and vaginal moisturizers may improve some GSM symptoms in the short term.
- Vaginal estrogen, vaginal DHEA, oral ospemifene, and vaginal moisturizers may improve some GSM symptoms in the short term.
- Few long-term data exist on efficacy, comparative effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of GSM treatments.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Reliability of salivary biomarkers as skeletal maturity indicators: A systematic review
Khade DM et al. • International orthodontics (2023)
The current evidence suggests that salivary biomarkers can be used as an adjunct for growth prediction during orthodontic treatment planning along with other methods of skeletal maturation assessment.
- The current evidence suggests that salivary biomarkers can be used as an adjunct for growth prediction during orthodontic treatment planning along with other methods of skeletal maturation assessment.
- Still there is need for further research with longitudinal studies in this field.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone therapy on cognitive performance among postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomized clinical trial data
Sultana F et al. • Menopause (New York, N.Y.) (2023)
Overall, this systematic review does not support a beneficial effect of DHEA therapy on cognitive performance in postmenopausal women.
- Overall, this systematic review does not support a beneficial effect of DHEA therapy on cognitive performance in postmenopausal women.
- Published in Menopause (New York, N.Y.) (2023)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of Exercise Training on Anabolic and Catabolic Hormones with Advanced Age: A Systematic Review
Zouhal H et al. • Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) (2022)
In conclusion, findings from this systematic review suggest that exercise training increases basal levels of testosterone, IGF-1, SHBG, hGH and DHEA in both male and females over 40 years of age.
- In conclusion, findings from this systematic review suggest that exercise training increases basal levels of testosterone, IGF-1, SHBG, hGH and DHEA in both male and females over 40 years of age.
- The increases in blood levels of these hormones were independent of the mode, duration and intensity of the training programs.
- However, the effects of long-term exercise training on cortisol and insulin levels in elderly people are less clear.
Efficacy of Hormonal and Nonhormonal Approaches to Vaginal Atrophy and Sexual Dysfunctions in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review
Sarmento ACA et al. • Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia (2022)
We identified literature that lacks coherence in terms of the proposed treatments and selected outcome measures.
- We identified literature that lacks coherence in terms of the proposed treatments and selected outcome measures.
- The present review is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42018100488).
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
DHEA and DHEA-S levels in posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analytic review
van Zuiden M et al. • Psychoneuroendocrinology (2017)
All rights reserved.
- A trend for higher DHEA levels was found in PTSD patients compared to non-trauma-exposed controls (NTC) (k=3, SMD=1.12 95% CI -0.03-2.52, Z=1.91, p=0.06).
- Significantly higher DHEA-S levels were observed in PTSD patients compared to NTC (k=2, SMD=0.76, 95% CI 0.38-1.13, Z=3.94, p<0.001).
- All rights reserved.
Dehydroepiandrosterone status and efficacy of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation for bone health in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Lin J et al. • The International journal of eating disorders (2022)
Potential detrimental effects on BMD were identified in younger adolescents with open physes in one study.
- Meta-analysis examining DHEA efficacy
- Published in The International journal of eating disorders (2022)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings