DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men
Nair KS, Rizza RA, O'Brien P, Dhatariya K, Short KR, Nehra A
Published in New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 355 (16), pp. 1647-59
Methodology
Two-year randomized placebo-controlled trial of DHEA or testosterone replacement in elderly men and women measuring hormone levels, body composition and quality of life.
Key Findings
DHEA raised circulating DHEA-S and downstream steroid precursors but produced no improvement in body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity or quality of life.
Conclusions
Adrenal steroid precursor supplementation shifts hormone levels without functional benefit.
Limitations
Older, healthy population; may not generalise to deficiency states.
Supplements Studied
Neither treatment improved the quality of life or had major adverse effects
Outcomes Measured
DHEA raised circulating DHEA-S and downstream steroid precursors but produced no improvement in body composition, physical performance or quality of life
DHEA raised circulating DHEA-S and downstream steroid precursors but produced no improvement in body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity or quality of life.
an increase in plasma levels of sulfated DHEA
Study Details
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