| Reference |
Subjects |
Study design |
Dose and duration |
Outcome (measure) |
|
| Studies in women with adrenal insufficiency |
| Arlt et al. (41); Callies et al. (55) |
Women with primary (n = 14) and secondary adrenal insufficiency (n = 10) (23–59 yrs) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 50 mg/day vs placebo for 4 months each (n = 24) |
Increased well-being and mood, specific improvements in anxiety and depression; increased sexual interest and satisfaction; HDL  , LDL  , Trigl. , Lpa ; fasting glucose , fasting insulin , serum leptin ; BC (bioimpedance); exercise capacity (incremental cycling test); serum osteocalcin  , urinary crosslinks |
| Hunt et al. (44) |
Women with primary adrenal insufficiency (26–59 yrs) (n = 24) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 50 mg/day vs placebo for 3 months each (n = 24) |
Self-esteem , mood , fatigue , cognition , no change in sexual function; no change in BC and BMD (DXA); HDL , LDL , Trigl. ; insulin sensitivity (fasting glucose, insulin, (HOMA); |
| Johannsson et al. (45) |
Women with secondary adrenal insufficiency due to hypopituitarism (25–65 yrs) (n = 38) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 20–30 mg/day vs placebo for 6 months each (n = 38) (20 mg > 45 yrs; 30 mg < 45 yrs) |
Alertness , stamina , initiative , improved sexual relations (validated partner questionnaire); no change in BMD (DXA); HDL , ApoA1 |
| Lovas et al. (56) |
Women with primary adrenal insufficiency (n = 39) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 25 mg/day (n = 19) vs placebo (n = 20) for 9 months |
No change in subjective health status, fatigue and sexuality; HDL ; sweat odor , scalp itching |
| Dhatariya et al. (50) |
Women with adrenal insufficiency (n = 28) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 50 mg/day vs placebo for 12 weeks each (n = 28) |
Insulin sensitivity (euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp); plasma lipid profile (HDL , LDL , Trigl. ) |
| Studies in healthy peri- and postmenopausal women |
| Morales et al. (57) |
Healthy women (40–70 yrs) (n = 17; 15/17 menopausal, 8/15 on HRT) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 50 mg/day vs placebo for 3 months each (n = 17) |
Improved self-reported well-being (caveat: no assessment with validated questionnaires); no change in libido; no change in BMI and body fat (bio-impedance); insulin sensitivity (ivGTT + MINMOD); HDL |
| Yen et al. (58); Morales et al. (59) |
Women with physiological menopause (40–70 yrs) (n = 8; 7/8 on HRT) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study |
DHEA 100 mg/day vs placebo for 6 months each (n = 8) |
Basal metabolic rate (indirect calorimetry) fasting insulin ; fasting glucose , HDL , ApoA1 ; no change in BC and BMD (DXA); urinary crosslinks ; no change in muscle strength (isometric testing) |
| Casson et al. (60) |
Women with physiological menopause (n = 13) and low serum DHEAS |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 25 mg/day (n = 7) vs placebo (n = 6) for 6 months |
No change in BC and BMD (DXA); urinary crosslinks ; insulin sensitivity (iv insulin tolerance test + MINMOD); LDL , Trigl. , HDL , ApoA1 |
| Barnhart et al. (46) |
Perimenopausal women (45–55 yrs) reporting impaired well-being (n = 60) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 50 mg/day (n = 30) vs placebo (n = 30) for 3 months |
No change in mood, self-perceived quality of life, cognitive function and perimenopausal symptoms |
| Baulieu et al. (49) |
Postmenopausal women (60–79 yrs) (n = 140) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 50 mg/day (n = 70) vs placebo (n = 70) for 12 months |
BMD in women > 70 yrs (DXA), osteocalcin libido in women > 70 yrs (visual analog scale); skin sebum secretion in women 60–79 yrs |
| Lasco et al. (61) |
Women with physiological menopause and low DHEAS (n = 20) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 50 mg/day (n = 10) vs placebo (n = 10) for 12 months |
HDL , LDL , Trigl. ; oGTT ; insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp) |
| Villareal & Holloszy (51) |
Postmenopausal women (65–78 yrs) (n = 28) |
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study |
DHEA 50 mg/day (n = 14) vs placebo (n = 14) for 6 months |
Decrease in both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat (MRI); oGTT; AUC insulin , AUC glucose , insulin sensitivity |
|
|
| BC, body composition; BMD, bone mineral density; DXA, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; oGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; ivGTT, intravenous glucose tolerance test; AUC, area under the curve; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein, Trigl., triglycerides; LPA, lipoprotein a; HOMA, homeostasis model of assessment; ApoA1, apolipoprotein A1; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; BMI, body mass index; MINMOD, Bergman minimal model. |
