Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced predominantly in the adrenal glands, and to a lesser extent the gonads and brain. It serves as a key metabolic precursor for the biosynthesis of androgens and estrogens and exerts additional actions as a neurosteroid in the central nervous system, modulating neuronal receptors and neurotrophic signaling. DHEA has weak direct activity at androgen and estrogen receptors but is most biologically significant through its conversion to stronger sex steroids in peripheral tissues. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy refers to the clinical use of exogenous DHEA (prasterone) to restore physiological levels in deficiency states such as adrenal insufficiency, with ongoing research into use for age-related decline and various neuropsychiatric disorders.

Other names

AndrostenolonePrasterone3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one

Hormone replacement: boosting systemic DHEA to normal/physiological levels in deficiency, Conversion to androgens/estrogens in peripheral tissues, Direct or indirect modulation of cell/nuclear receptors (e.g., partial agonist activity at androgen receptor, full agonist at ERβ, modulator of neurotransmitter receptors NMDA, GABAA, sigma-1, activation of neurotrophin receptors TrkA, TrkC).