DHEA, the active ingredient of prasterone, was discovered in 1934.[9][11] An association between DHEA levels and aging was first reported in 1965.[9][11] The compound started being used as a medication in the late 1970s and as a supplement in the early 1980s.[9][11] The marketing of prasterone over-the-counter as a supplement is allowed in the United States but is banned in many other countries.[9]
Medical uses
Deficiency
DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) are produced by the adrenal glands. In people with adrenal insufficiency such as in Addison's disease, there may be deficiency of DHEA and DHEA-S. In addition, levels of these steroids decrease throughout life and are 70 to 80% lower in the elderly relative to levels in young adults. Prasterone can be used to increase DHEA and DHEA-S levels in adrenal insufficiency and older age. Although there is deficiency of these steroids in such individuals, clinical benefits of supplementation, if any, are uncertain, and there is insufficient evidence at present to support the use of prasterone for such purposes.[13][14]
Prasterone is sometimes used as an androgen in menopausal hormone therapy.[15][16][17] In addition to prasterone itself, a long-lasting esterprodrug of prasterone, prasterone enanthate, is used in combination with estradiol valerate for the treatment of menopausal symptoms under the brand name Gynodian Depot.[18][19][20][21][22][23] The current evidence of any benefit of DHEA supplementation to menopausal and postmenopausal women is inconclusive.[24][25][26] Whereas prasterone (DHEA) supplementation in postmenopausal women can lead to an increase in E1, E2, testosterone, DHEA, and DHEAS serum levels, and a reduction in SHBG; still, the current evidence regarding the benefits of DHEA supplementation in postmenopausal women is inconclusive—while some studies suggest potential benefits, such as improved well-being, sexual function, and possibly decreased menopausal symptoms, these findings are not universally agreed upon.[27] Moreover, the long-term safety data for DHEA supplementation is lacking, which is a significant concern. This is particularly relevant given that DHEA supplementation can lead to increased estrogenic availability, which could potentially have implications for conditions sensitive to hormonal levels.[27]
Notes:Premenopausal women produce about 230 ± 70 μg testosterone per day (6.4 ± 2.0 mg testosterone per 4 weeks), with a range of 130 to 330 μg per day (3.6–9.2 mg per 4 weeks). Footnotes:a = Mostly discontinued or unavailable. b = Over-the-counter. Sources: See template.
Prasterone is produced naturally in the human body, but the long-term effects of its use are largely unknown.[39][40] In the short term, several studies have noted few adverse effects. In a study by Chang et al., prasterone was administered at a dose of 200 mg/day for 24 weeks with slight androgenic effects noted.[41] Another study utilized a dose up to 400 mg/day for 8 weeks with few adverse events reported.[42] A longer-term study followed patients dosed with 50 mg of prasterone for 12 months with the number and severity of side effects reported to be small.[43] Another study delivered a dose of 50 mg of prasterone for 10 months with no serious adverse events reported.[44]
As a hormone precursor, there have been reports of side effects possibly caused by the hormone metabolites of prasterone.[40]
It is not known whether prasterone is safe for long-term use. Some researchers believe prasterone supplements might actually raise the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes,[40] and stroke. Prasterone may stimulate tumor growth in types of cancer that are sensitive to hormones, such as some types of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer.[40] Prasterone may increase prostate swelling in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate gland.[39]
Prasterone is a steroid hormone. High doses may cause aggressiveness, irritability, trouble sleeping, and the growth of body or facial hair on women.[39] It also may stop menstruation and lower the levels of HDL cholesterol, which could raise the risk of heart disease.[39] Other reported side effects include acne, heart rhythm problems, liver problems, hair loss (from the scalp), and oily skin. It may also alter the body's regulation of blood sugar.[39]
Prasterone may promote tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.[39] It may also increase the risk of uterine and prostate cancers due to metabolism into estrogens and androgens, respectively.[45] Patients on hormone replacement therapy may have more estrogen-related side effects when taking prasterone. This supplement may also interfere with other medicines, and potential interactions between it and drugs and herbs are possible.[39]
Prasterone is possibly unsafe for individuals experiencing pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormone sensitive conditions, liver problems, diabetes, depression or mood disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or cholesterol problems.[46]
Prasterone has been reported to possess few or no side effects even at very high dosages (e.g., 50 times the recommended over-the-counter supplement dosage).[45] However, it may cause masculinization and other androgenic side effects in women and gynecomastia and other estrogenic side effects in men.[45]
Oral uptake of prasterone is excellent. Its volume of distribution is 17.0-38.5L (whereas it is 8.5-9.3L for its active metabolite DHEA-S). Prasterone (DHEA) has a biological half-life of 15-38 min (whereas it is 7-22h for DHEA-S). 51-73% of DHEA-S and its metabolites are excreted via the renal route.[47]
At a high dosage of 1,600 mg/day orally for 4 weeks, treatment of postmenopausal women with prasterone has been found to increase serum levels of DHEA by 15-fold, testosterone by 9-fold, DHEA-S, androstenedione, and DHT all by 20-fold, and estrone and estradiol both by 2-fold.[55][56]
Although prasterone can reliably increase testosterone levels in women, this isn't similarly the case in men.[45] A high dosage of 1,600 mg/day prasterone in men for 4 weeks was found to increase DHEA and androstenedione levels but did not significantly affect testosterone levels.[45]
Dosing
In clinical studies of prasterone supplementation, dosages have ranged from 20 to 1,600 mg per day.[57]
In people with adrenal insufficiency, oral dosages of 20 to 50 mg/day prasterone have been found to restore DHEA and DHEA-S levels to physiological levels seen in young healthy adults.[57] Conversely, oral dosages of 100 to 200 mg/day prasterone have been found to result in supraphysiological levels of DHEA and DHEA-S.[57]
Micronization of prasterone has been found to significantly increase levels of DHEA-S achieved with oral administration, but to produce no significant change in levels of DHEA or testosterone levels achieved.[48]
DHEA was discovered, via isolation from male urine, by Adolf Butenandt and Hans Dannenbaum in 1934, and the compound was isolated from human blood plasma by Migeon and Plager in 1954.[9][11] DHEA sulfate, the 3β-sulfateester of DHEA, was isolated from urine in 1944, and was found by Baulieu to be the most abundant steroid hormone in human plasma in 1954.[9][11] From its discovery in 1934 until 1959, DHEA was referred to by a number of different names in the literature, including dehydroandrosterone, transdehydroandrosterone, dehydroisoandrosterone, and androstenolone.[11] The name dehydroepiandrosterone, also known as DHEA, was first proposed by Fieser in 1949, and subsequently became the most commonly used name of the hormone.[11] For decades after its discovery, DHEA was considered to be an inactive compound that served mainly as an intermediate in the production of androgens and estrogens from cholesterol.[11] In 1965, an association between DHEA sulfate levels and aging was reported by De Nee and Vermeulen.[9][11] Following this, DHEA became of interest to the scientific community, and numerous studies assessing the relationship between DHEA and DHEA sulfate levels and aging were conducted.[9][11]
Prasterone, the proposed INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name and recommended INN of DHEA and the term used when referring to the compound as a medication, were published in 1970 and 1978, respectively.[62][63] The combination of 4 mg estradiol valerate and 200 mg prasterone enanthate in an oil solution was introduced for use in menopausal hormone therapy by intramuscular injection under the brand name Gynodian Depot in Europe by 1978.[64][65][66][67] In the early 1980s, prasterone became available and was widely sold over-the-counter as a non-prescription supplement in the United States, primarily as a weight loss aid.[9][11][68] It was described as a "miracle drug", with supposed anti-aging, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer benefits.[9] This continued until 1985, when the marketing of prasterone was banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to a lack of evidence for health benefits and due to the long-term safety and risks of the compound being unknown at the time.[9][11][68] Subsequently, prasterone once again became available over-the-counter as a dietary supplement in the United States following the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.[9] Conversely, it has remained banned as a supplement in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.[9][69]
In 2001, Genelabs submitted a New Drug Application of prasterone for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to the FDA.[9][70] It had the tentative brand names Anastar, Aslera, and Prestara.[9][71][70] However, this application was not approved, and while development of prasterone for SLE in both the United States and Europe continued until up to 2010, the medication was ultimately never approved for the treatment of this condition.[9] In 2016, the FDA approved prasterone in an intravaginal gel formulation for the treatment of painful sexual intercourse due to vulvovaginal atrophy in the United States under the brand name Intrarosa.[72][73] This was the first prasterone-containing medication to be approved by the FDA in this country.[72]
In the United States, prasterone or prasterone sulfate have been advertised, under the names DHEA and DHEA-S, with claims that they may be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments. Prasterone and prasterone sulfate are readily available in the United States, where they are sold as over-the-counterdietary supplements.[77]
In 1996, reporter Harry Wessel of the Orlando (Florida) Sentinel wrote about DHEA that "Thousands of people have gotten caught up in the hoopla and are buying the stuff in health food stores, pharmacies and mail-order catalogs" but that "such enthusiasm is viewed as premature by many in the medical field." He noted that "National publications such as Time, Newsweek and USA Today have run articles recently about the hormone, while several major publishers have come out with books touting it."[78] His column was widely syndicated and reprinted in other U.S. newspapers.
In Australia, a prescription is required to buy prasterone, where it is also comparatively expensive compared to off-the-shelf purchases in US supplement shops. Australian customs classify prasterone as an "anabolic steroid[s] or precursor[s]" and, as such, it is only possible to carry prasterone into the country through customs if one possesses an import permit which may be obtained if one has a valid prescription for the hormone.[80]
Canada
In Canada, prasterone is a Controlled Drug listed under Section 23 of Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act[81] and as such is available by prescription only.
Prasterone is legal to sell in the United States as a dietary supplement. It is currently grandfathered in as an "Old Dietary Ingredient" being on sale prior to 1994. Prasterone is specifically exempted from the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 and 2004.[82]
Sports and athletics
Prasterone is banned from use in athletic competition.[9][11][68] It is a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency,[83] which manages drug testing for Olympics and other sports.
Yulia Efimova, who holds the world record pace for both the 50-meter and 200-meter breaststroke, and won the bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke in the 2012 London Olympic Games, tested positive for prasterone in an out-of-competition doping test.[84]
Rashard Lewis, then with the Orlando Magic, tested positive for prasterone and was suspended 10 games before the start of the 2009–10 season.[85]
In 2016 MMA fighter Fabio Maldonado revealed he was taking prasterone during his time with the UFC.[86]
In January 2011, NBA player O. J. Mayo was given a 10-game suspension after testing positive for prasterone. Mayo termed his use of prasterone as "an honest mistake," saying the prasterone was in an over-the-counter supplement and that he was unaware the supplement was banned by the NBA.[87] Mayo was the seventh player to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs since the league began testing in 1999.
Olympic 400-meter champion Lashawn Merritt tested positive for prasterone in 2010 and was banned from the sport for 21 months.[88]
A meta-analysis of intervention studies shows that prasterone supplementation in elderly men can induce a small but significant positive effect on body composition that is strictly dependent on prasterone conversion into its bioactive metabolites such as androgens or estrogens.[90] Evidence is inconclusive in regards to the effect of prasterone on strength in the elderly.[91] In middle-aged men, no significant effect of prasterone supplementation on lean body mass, strength, or testosterone levels was found in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.[92]
Cancer
There is no evidence prasterone is of benefit in treating or preventing cancer.[39]
Cardiovascular disease
A review in 2003 found the then-extant evidence sufficient to suggest that low serum levels of DHEA-S may be associated with coronary heart disease in men, but insufficient to determine whether prasterone supplementation would have any cardiovascular benefit.[93]
Prasterone may enhance G6PD mRNA expression, confounding its inhibitory effects.[94]
Lupus
There is some evidence of short-term benefit in those with systemic lupus erythematosus but little evidence of long-term benefit or safety.[95] Prasterone was under development for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in the United States and Europe in the 1990s and 2000s and reached phase IIIclinical trials and preregistration for this indication, respectively, but ultimately development was not continued past 2010.[9][71][70]
Memory
Prasterone supplementation has not been found to be useful for memory function in normal middle aged or older adults.[96] It has been studied as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, but there is no evidence that it is effective or ineffective. More research is needed to determine its benefits.[97]
Mood
A few small, short term clinical studies have found that prasterone improves mood but its long-term efficacy and safety, and how it compares to antidepressants, was unknown as of 2015.[98][99]
^Arlt W (September 2004). "Dehydroepiandrosterone and ageing". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 18 (3): 363–380. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2004.02.006. PMID15261843.
^Frigo P, Eppel W, Asseryanis E, Sator M, Golaszewski T, Gruber D, et al. (April 1995). "The effects of hormone substitution in depot form on the uterus in a group of 50 perimenopausal women--a vaginosonographic study". Maturitas. 21 (3): 221–225. doi:10.1016/0378-5122(94)00893-c. PMID7616871.
^Salvatore S, Benini V, Ruffolo AF, Degliuomini RS, Redaelli A, Casiraghi A, et al. (2023). "Current challenges in the pharmacological management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 24 (1): 23–28. doi:10.1080/14656566.2022.2152326. PMID36444726.
^Pan M, Zhou J, Pan X, Wang J, Qi Q, Wang L (2023). "Drugs for the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms: Hormonal and non-hormonal therapy". Life Sciences. 312. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121255. PMID36470539.
^Casiano Evans, Elizabeth A., Hobson, Deslyn T. G., Aschkenazi, Sarit O., Alas, Alexandriah N., Balgobin, Sunil, Balk, Ethan M., et al. (2023). "Nonestrogen Therapies for Treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review". Obstetrics and Gynecology. 142 (3): 555–570. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005288. PMID37543737.
^ abMarina L, Sojat AS, Maseroli E, Spaggiari G, Pandurevic S, Santi D (June 2020). "Hormonal profile of menopausal women receiving androgen replacement therapy: a meta-analysis". J Endocrinol Invest. 43 (6): 717–735. doi:10.1007/s40618-020-01192-x. PMID32016915.
^Negwer M, Scharnow HG (2001). Organic-chemical drugs and their synonyms: (an international survey). Wiley-VCH. p. 1831. ISBN978-3-527-30247-5. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2017. 3β-Hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one hydrogen sulfate = (3β)-3-(Sulfooxy)androst-5-en-17-one. R: Sodium salt (1099-87-2). S: Astenile, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate sodium, DHA-S, DHEAS, KYH 3102, Mylis, PB 005, Prasterone sodium sulfate, Teloin
^Jianqiu Y (1992). "Clinical Application of Prasterone Sodium Sulfate". Chinese Journal of New Drugs. 5: 015.
^Sakai T, Sakaguchi M, Adachi Y, Kawashima T, Awata N (1992). "The Biological Fate of Sodium Prasterone Sulfate after Vaginal Administration II: Distribution after Single and Multiple Administration to Pregnant Rats". 薬物動態. 7 (1): 87–101. doi:10.2133/dmpk.7.87.
^Rabkin JG, McElhiney MC, Rabkin R, McGrath PJ, Ferrando SJ (January 2006). "Placebo-controlled trial of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for treatment of nonmajor depression in patients with HIV/AIDS". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 163 (1): 59–66. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.59. PMID16390890.
^Villareal DT, Holloszy JO (November 2006). "DHEA enhances effects of weight training on muscle mass and strength in elderly women and men". American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 291 (5): E1003 –E1008. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00100.2006. PMID16787962. S2CID8929382.
^ abCasson PR, Straughn AB, Umstot ES, Abraham GE, Carson SA, Buster JE (February 1996). "Delivery of dehydroepiandrosterone to premenopausal women: effects of micronization and nonoral administration". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 174 (2): 649–653. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(96)70444-1. PMID8623801.
^Kuhl H, Taubert HD (1987). Das Klimakterium – Pathophysiologie, Klinik, Therapie [The Climacteric – Pathophysiology, Clinic, Therapy] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Thieme Verlag. p. 122. ISBN978-3-13-700801-9.
^Düsterberg B, Wendt H (1983). "Plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and 17 beta-estradiol after intramuscular administration of Gynodian-Depot in 3 women". Hormone Research. 17 (2): 84–89. doi:10.1159/000179680 (inactive 13 December 2024). PMID6220949.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
^Rauramo L, Punnonen R, Kaihola LH, Grönroos M (January 1980). "Serum oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol concentrations in castrated women during intramuscular oestradiol valerate and oestradiolbenzoate-oestradiolphenylpropionate therapy". Maturitas. 2 (1): 53–58. doi:10.1016/0378-5122(80)90060-2. PMID7402086.
^Labrie F, Martel C, Bélanger A, Pelletier G (April 2017). "Androgens in women are essentially made from DHEA in each peripheral tissue according to intracrinology". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 168: 9–18. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.12.007. PMID28153489. S2CID2620899.
^Mortola JF, Yen SS (September 1990). "The effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone on endocrine-metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 71 (3): 696–704. doi:10.1210/jcem-71-3-696. PMID2144295.
^ abcAlesci S, Manoli I, Blackman MR (29 December 2004). "Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)". In Coates PM, Paul MC, Blackman M, Blackman MR, Cragg GM, Levine M, White JD, Moss J (eds.). Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. CRC Press. pp. 169–. ISBN978-0-8247-5504-1.
^Thieme D, Hemmersbach P (18 December 2009). Doping in Sports. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 137–. ISBN978-3-540-79088-4. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
^Parr MK, Opfermann G, Geyer H, Westphal F, Sönnichsen FD, Zapp J, et al. (May 2011). "Seized designer supplement named "1-Androsterone": identification as 3β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one and its urinary elimination". Steroids. 76 (6): 540–547. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2011.02.001. PMID21310167. S2CID4942690.
^Hoyme U, Baumueller A, Madsen PO (1978). "The influence of pH on antimicrobial substances in canine vaginal and urethral secretions". Urological Research. 6 (1): 35–42. doi:10.1007/bf00257080. PMID25506. S2CID8266978.
^Kopera H, Dhont M, Dienstl F, Gambrell RD, Gordan GS, Heidenreich J, et al. (1979). "Effects, side-effects, and dosage schemes of various sex hormones in the peri- and post-menopause". In Keep PA, Serr DM, Greenblatt RB (eds.). Female and Male Climacteric. Springer. pp. 43–67. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-9720-5_6. ISBN978-94-011-9722-9.
^Mattson LA, Cullberg G, Tangkeo P, Zador G, Samsioe G (December 1980). "Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone enanthate to oophorectomized women--effects on sex hormones and lipid metabolism". Maturitas. 2 (4): 301–309. doi:10.1016/0378-5122(80)90032-8. PMID6453267.
^ ab"Prasterone". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^"Prasterone". Drug Information Portal - Quick Access to Quality Drug Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017.
^Calfee R, Fadale P (March 2006). "Popular ergogenic drugs and supplements in young athletes". Pediatrics. 117 (3): e577 –e589. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1429. PMID16510635. S2CID6559714. In 2004, a new Steroid Control Act that placed androstenedione under Schedule III of controlled substances effective January 2005 was signed. DHEA was not included in this act and remains an over-the-counter nutritional supplement.
^Ruiz RR, Rothenberg B (22 September 2016). "Doping". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. p. C12. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^Baker WL, Karan S, Kenny AM (June 2011). "Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on muscle strength and physical function in older adults: a systematic review". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 59 (6): 997–1002. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03410.x. PMID21649617. S2CID7137809.
^Fuller SJ, Tan RS, Martins RN (September 2007). "Androgens in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease in aging men and possible therapeutic interventions". Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 12 (2): 129–142. doi:10.3233/JAD-2007-12202. PMID17917157.
^Pluchino N, Drakopoulos P, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Wenger JM, Petignat P, Genazzani AR (January 2015). "Neurobiology of DHEA and effects on sexuality, mood and cognition". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 145: 273–280. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.04.012. PMID24892797. S2CID12382989.
Keppel Hesselink JM (December 1997). "[Prasterone (dihydroepiandrosterone): a modern source of eternal youth?]". Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (in Dutch). 141 (51): 2484–2487. PMID9555138.
Zelissen PM, Thijssen JH (October 2001). "[Role of prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone) in substitution therapy for adrenocortical insufficiency]". Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (in Dutch). 145 (42): 2018–2022. PMID11695098.
Oberbeck R, Kobbe P (2010). "Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): a steroid with multiple effects. Is there any possible option in the treatment of critical illness?". Current Medicinal Chemistry. 17 (11): 1039–1047. doi:10.2174/092986710790820570. PMID20156161.
Prati A, Santagni S, Rattighieri E, Campedelli A, Ricchieri F, Chierchia E, et al. (June 2014). "[The putative role and use of DHEA and its association with the hormone replacement therapy]". Minerva Ginecologica (in Italian). 66 (3): 313–324. PMID24971788.
Genazzani AR, Pluchino N (August 2010). "DHEA therapy in postmenopausal women: the need to move forward beyond the lack of evidence". Climacteric. 13 (4): 314–316. doi:10.3109/13697137.2010.492496. PMID20540592. S2CID5578070.
Luci M, Valenti G, Maggio M (September 2010). "[Dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA(S)]: anabolic hormone?]". Recenti Progressi in Medicina (in Italian). 101 (9): 333–344. hdl:11381/2436727. PMID21268370.
Panjari M, Davis SR (September 2011). "Vaginal DHEA to treat menopause related atrophy: a review of the evidence". Maturitas. 70 (1): 22–25. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.06.005. PMID21733647.
Savineau JP, Marthan R, Dumas de la Roque E (March 2013). "Role of DHEA in cardiovascular diseases". Biochemical Pharmacology. 85 (6): 718–726. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2012.12.004. PMID23270992.
Rutkowski K, Sowa P, Rutkowska-Talipska J, Kuryliszyn-Moskal A, Rutkowski R (July 2014). "Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): hypes and hopes". Drugs. 74 (11): 1195–1207. doi:10.1007/s40265-014-0259-8. PMID25022952. S2CID26554413.
Peixoto C, Devicari Cheda JN, Nardi AE, Veras AB, Cardoso A (2014). "The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the treatment of depression and depressive symptoms in other psychiatric and medical illnesses: a systematic review". Current Drug Targets. 15 (9): 901–914. doi:10.2174/1389450115666140717111116. PMID25039497.
Maggio M, De Vita F, Fisichella A, Colizzi E, Provenzano S, Lauretani F, et al. (January 2015). "DHEA and cognitive function in the elderly". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 145: 281–292. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.03.014. PMID24794824. S2CID33768697.
Pluchino N, Drakopoulos P, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Wenger JM, Petignat P, Genazzani AR (January 2015). "Neurobiology of DHEA and effects on sexuality, mood and cognition". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 145: 273–280. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.04.012. PMID24892797. S2CID12382989.
Lang K, Burger-Stritt S, Hahner S (January 2015). "Is DHEA replacement beneficial in chronic adrenal failure?". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 29 (1): 25–32. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2014.09.007. PMID25617170.
Vuksan-Ćusa B, Šagud M, Radoš I (March 2016). "The role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in schizophrenia". Psychiatria Danubina. 28 (1): 30–33. PMID26938818.
Qin JC, Fan L, Qin AP (May 2016). "The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in IVF cycle: Evidence from a meta-analysis". J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 46: 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2016.01.002. PMID27212610.
Handelsman DJ, Matsumoto AM, Gerrard DF (January 2017). "Doping Status of DHEA Treatment for Female Athletes with Adrenal Insufficiency". Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 27 (1): 78–85. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000300. PMID26844622. S2CID24168278.
Qin JC, Fan L, Qin AP (January 2017). "The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in IVF cycle: Evidence from a meta-analysis". Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction. 46 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2016.01.002. PMID28403950.
Labrie F, Martel C, Bélanger A, Pelletier G (April 2017). "Androgens in women are essentially made from DHEA in each peripheral tissue according to intracrinology". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 168: 9–18. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.12.007. PMID28153489. S2CID2620899.
Triantafyllidou O, Sigalos G, Vlahos N (June 2017). "Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation and IVF outcome in poor responders". Human Fertility. 20 (2): 80–87. doi:10.1080/14647273.2016.1262065. PMID27927044. S2CID3425127.
Archer DF, Labrie F, Montesino M, Martel C (November 2017). "Comparison of intravaginal 6.5mg (0.50%) prasterone, 0.3mg conjugated estrogens and 10μg estradiol on symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 174: 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.03.014. PMID28323042. S2CID140206697.