When you reach a certain age in life, there’s a high chance you’re going to experience some significant changes to how you live and how you feel. This is in part due to ageing bodies and changes in mindsets, but also in part to fluctuating hormones as both men and women reach menopause or andropause.
And if you’re looking for help with hormone levels and are looking to boost your hormones, it’s likely you’ve come across DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which is a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands. It’s actually a building block for both estrogen and testosterone, both of which are vital for energy, mood, bone strength, and physical health.
Your levels of DHEA peak in your 20s and then slowly decline with age. Sadly, by the time you reach your 70s, your body may only be making around 10 to 20% of the amount it once did in your younger years.
But is taking DHEA right for you, and what are the benefits?
Supporting Hormone Balance
DHEA is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. And it’s thought that supplementing DHEA can help boost hormone levels and ease some of the symptoms, such as hot flushes in women and vaginal dryness or reduced energy and libido in men. The idea is that if you top up DHEA, your body has what it needs to produce sex hormones.
Helps Promote Bone Health
When your estrogen declines, your bone health and the risk of osteoporosis increase. For women of menopausal age, adding dhea supplements alongside calcium and vitamin D can give the body an added boost and help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Increase Energy Levels and Mood
Declining hormone levels impact your energy levels and your mood, and DHEA specifically has been linked to poor concentration, fatigue, and mood disorders.
There have been a small number of studies focused on improving overall energy with DHEA, and anecdotal reports suggest users felt happier and more alert when taking DHEA supplements.
Improved Sexual Health
One of the most commonly talked about aspects of DHEA is the benefits it offers to sexual health and wellbeing.
As it’s a precursor to estrogen and testosterone, supplementing declining levels might address some of the changes in sexual health people notice as they age. For boosting men’s libido and energy or treating vaginal dryness in women, there can be potential benefits for sexual wellbeing.
Anti-Aging Properties
Dropping hormone levels can also impact your skin, and you might notice loss of elasticity, thinning of your skin, dryness, or increased fine lines and wrinkles. DHEA regulates oil production and supports collagen, both of which are essential for good skin health. And supplementing may help with these visible skin health changes when applied topically or orally. There has been a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology stating that DHEA supplementation in older adults results in measurable improvement in their skin health.
While it might seem that choosing to add DHEA to your daily lifestyle to support aging can be a good idea, it’s important to understand that more studies are needed and that this isn’t recommended for people with a history of hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, or prostate, and if the wrong doses are taken, this can cause unwanted side effects or no impact at all. It’s best to consult a healthcare provider to check your suitability and get a better idea of how supplements can help you.
