The effect of deydroepiandrosterone supplementation to symptomatic perimenopausal women on serum endocrine profiles, lipid parameters, and health-related quality of life

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an androgenic steroid hormone, exhibits an a ge-related decline. Perimenopausal women have only approximately 50% of pea k DHEA levels. Despite limited scientific data, DHEA has gained recognition as a dietary supplement to reduce the symptoms of aging and improve well-b eing. This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial examined the e ffects of 50 mg/day of oral DHEA. supplementation, for 3 months, on 60 peri menopausal women with complaints of altered mood and well-being. Changes in the serum endocrine profile of women in the DHEA group were sign ificantly greater than the placebo group, including a 242% [95% confidence interval (CI) +60.1, +423.9] increase in DHEAS, a 94.8% (95% CI +34.2, +155 .4) increase in testosterone, and a 13.2% (95% CI -27.88, +0.5) decline in cortisol compared to baseline. Women receiving DHEA had a 10.1% (95% CI -15 .0, -5.1) decline in high-density lipoprotein and an 18.1% (95% CI -32.2, - 3.9) decline in Lp(a) from baseline, but these declines did not significant ly differ from women who received placebo. Women receiving DHEA did not hav e any improvements significantly greater than placebo in the severity of pe rimenopausal symptoms, mood, dysphoria, libido, cognition, memory, or well- being. DHEA supplementation significantly effects the endocrine profile, may affec t the lipid profile, but does not improve perimenopausal symptoms or well-b eing compared to placebo.