No Effect of DHEA on Exercise Training in Older Women

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) are produced robustly in men and women until the third decade of life, when production begins to markedly and progressively decline with age. These observations have led to recommendations that DHEA be provided to older adults. But does DHEA improve physical performance, body composition, and metabolic parameters? So begins the great debate.

In this 12-week blinded randomized trial, 31 sedentary, healthy, postmenopausal white women received both endurance (4 days weekly) and resistance (3 days weekly) exercise training; half received daily DHEA (50 mg) and half received placebo. DHEA treatment resulted in increases in circulating DHEA-S (by a mean of 650%), total testosterone (by 100%), …