Frågedatum: 2004-04-30
RELIS database 2004; id.nr. 20333, DRUGLINE
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What is DHEAS and is there any available substitution for low DHEAS?/nThe question concerns a woman



Fråga: What is DHEAS and is there any available substitution for low DHEAS? The question concerns a woman with an autoimmune disease with a DHEAS that was 0.3 umol/l (reference value 0.5-4.1 umol/l).

Sammanfattning: DHEAS is the sulphate of dehydroepiandrosterone, which is a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands. DHEA is classed as a drug in Sweden, and cannot be sold as a food supplement. There is a possibility to apply for a licence to prescribe DHEA registered in another country, but the effects of DHEA are not very well established.

Svar: Questions about DHEA have previously been discussed in Drugline (1,2,3). DHEA (also known as prasterone) stands for dehydroepiandrosterone and DHEAS is its sulphate. It is an endogenous androgenic hormone, which is secreted by the adrenal glands and is a precursor for both androgens and estrogens. The hormone has its peak concentration at the age of 25, and then declines to less than 20 percent of the peak level at the age of 70.

In the USA, DHEA has been an over-the-counter product used as an age-defying agent, for weight control and increased libido among other indications. It was banned by the FDA as an over-the-counter product in 1985, but still exists as a dietary supplement in health food products in the USA. DHEA is banned by the International Olympic Committee as an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) (4). In Sweden DHEA is classed as a drug, and can therefore not exist as a health food product (5). There are preparations with DHEA registered in some countries, most of which also include estradiol for hormone replacement therapy during menopause (4).

The efficacy and safety of DHEA has not been very well established. However, some double-blind placebo controlled studies have shown positive effects on mood, well-being and sexual desire in patients with adrenal insufficiency and depressive symptoms (6). Since DHEA is converted to estradiol and testosterone, there is an increased risk for breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.

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