Improvement in mood and fatigue after dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in Addison's disease in a randomized, double blind trial
Hunt PJ, Gurnell EM, Huppert FA, Richards C, Prevost AT, Wass JA, et al.
Published in J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Vol. 85 (12), pp. 4650-6
Methodology
Randomised double-blind crossover trial in 39 adults with Addison's disease: 50 mg oral DHEA daily for 12 weeks and placebo for 12 weeks, in random order, with a 4-week washout.
Key Findings
DHEAS and androstenedione rose from subnormal into the adult range; testosterone rose to low-normal only in women. In both sexes, self-esteem improved significantly, with a trend to better overall well-being; mood and fatigue also improved, especially in the evening. No effect on cognition, sexual function, body composition, lipids or bone density.
Conclusions
The authors concluded DHEA replacement corrects the deficiency and improves some aspects of psychological function in Addison's disease, including in men.
Limitations
Small and short (12 weeks per phase); numbers of men and women not given in the abstract; later 9- and 12-month trials found little or no benefit on similar measures.
Supplements Studied
39 patients with Addison's disease received either 50 mg oral DHEA daily for 12 weeks
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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