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DHEA Supplements Review

Choose the Best DHEA Supplement. Beware of Big Differences in Dose and Price.

Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
 
Initially Posted: 07/18/2015
DHEA Supplements Tested by ConsumerLab.com

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DHEA supplement brands compared in this review

View Larger Image 2768_small_ASTSportsScience-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

AST Sports Science DHEA 100

View Larger Image 2763_small_CountryLife-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Country Life DHEA

View Larger Image 2762_small_DouglasLabratories-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Douglas Laboratories DHEA

View Larger Image 2772_small_FinestNutrition-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Finest Nutrition [Walgreen] DHEA

View Larger Image 2764_small_GNC-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

GNC DHEA

View Larger Image 2765_small_LifeExtension-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Life Extension DHEA

View Larger Image 2766_small_NaturesBounty-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Nature's Bounty DHEA 25 mg

View Larger Image 2767_small_NutriCology-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

NutriCology DHEA 25

Puritan's Pride DHEA 25 mg Dehydroepiandrosterone

View Larger Image 2769_small_SpringValley-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Spring Valley (WalMart) DHEA

View Larger Image 2771_small_Vitacost-DHEA-Small-2015.jpg

Vitacost DHEA

Vitamin World DHEA

Summary

  • What do DHEA supplements do? There is weak evidence that taking DHEA (a hormone the body uses to create other hormones, including estrogen and testosterone) may help improve mood, and in older men and women, sexual function and the appearance of the skin. (See What It Does)
  • What did CL's tests of DHEA find? Products reviewed by ConsumerLab.com were found to contain what they claimed and did not exceed contamination limits for heavy metals. However, labeled amounts of DHEA in products tested varied considerably, from 10 mg to 100 mg per pill — so it's important to choose one that provides the right dose for the intended use, at the best price. See the top choices of products "Approved" by ConsumerLab.com.
  • How much DHEA should I take? A typical dose is about 50 mg of DHEA per day, although for some uses, such as depression, the dose may be higher. (See ConsumerTips™)
  • DHEA safety and side effects: DHEA may increase testosterone levels in women, and should not be taken by women with hormone-sensitive diseases, such as breast cancer. It may also decrease levels of HDL ("good cholesterol") and increase insulin resistance. See Concerns and Cautions for other potential side effects and drug interactions.


You must subscribe to get the full test results for DHEA supplements along with ConsumerLab.com recommendations and quality ratings. You will get results for five DHEA supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com and for five others that passed the same tests through our voluntary Quality Certification Program. Also included are two supplements similar to another that passed testing but which are sold under a different brand name. In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:
  • Which DHEA supplements failed testing and which passed
  • Which DHEA supplements we rated were most economical and which were most expensive
  • The evidence for or against DHEA to improve aging skin, sexual function, athletic performance, osteoporosis, lupus, and other conditions  
  • DHEA dosage for specific uses
  • Side effects, cautions, and potential drug interactions with DHEA  

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