DHEA
Browse DHEA supplements in capsule form, micronised and standard, from low 5 mg strengths up to 50 mg. Below we explain how the forms differ, why wild yam alone is not DHEA, and how to use it sensibly.Read more →
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Choosing a DHEA supplement: forms, strengths and daily use
DHEA in plain words
DHEA is short for dehydroepiandrosterone. Your body makes it in the adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above the kidneys. DHEA is a precursor, which means the body can convert it into other hormones. Production is highest in early adulthood and falls slowly from roughly your thirties onwards. That is the reason most people who look at this ingredient are over 40.
The DHEA inside a capsule is made in a laboratory. It starts from diosgenin, a plant compound in wild yam, which is then converted in several chemical steps. One mix-up is worth clearing up straight away: the human body cannot turn yam into DHEA on its own. A product that lists wild yam only contains no DHEA at all, so if a plant extract is what you want, look at our yam extracts instead.
Particle size and strength are the real differences
Bottles look almost identical, so compare two things on the label.
- Micronised DHEA: ground into very fine particles, so more of it dissolves before absorption. Research in premenopausal women showed that micronisation changes how much of a dose ends up in the blood as DHEA-S, the stable sulfate form.
- Standard, crystalline DHEA: the plain powder. Usually cheaper and easier to find.
- Strength: capsules run from 5 and 10 mg through 25 mg up to 50 mg. Higher is not automatically better. Low strengths let you build up in small steps.
Two neighbours on the shelf are often confused with it. 7-Keto DHEA is a different molecule: it is formed from DHEA, but it is not converted into oestrogen or testosterone. Pregnenolone capsules sit one step earlier in the same chain, so they are related but not interchangeable.
How we choose the DHEA in our range
We judge every product on three points: the form, the dose and whether a combination makes sense. So we keep micronised versions in the range where a brand can show what it does, and we deliberately stock low 5 and 10 mg strengths alongside 25 and 50 mg, because building up slowly is easier when the steps are small. Single-ingredient capsules get priority here; DHEA does not need a blend around it. We buy straight from the brands, our compliance team checks each product before it goes live, and independent labs spot-check batches. Read how we select our brands.
DHEA is usually chosen by adults over 40 who follow their hormone levels with a practitioner, often after a DHEA-S blood test. It also comes up among readers of our healthy ageing selection, who prefer to test first and then dose, rather than the other way round.
Two honest points. First, DHEA is a hormone precursor, not a general daily nutrient like magnesium or vitamin C in our wider dietary supplements range: the sensible approach is a low strength, taken consistently, with a check-in after a few weeks. Second, European food law approves no health claims for DHEA, so we do not promise you an effect. What we can do is explain the forms, keep the dosing steps small and stay clear about what a label really contains.
Not intended for use under 18, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you take medication or are under medical care, discuss it with your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a hormone precursor your body produces in the adrenal glands, two small glands above the kidneys. From there the body can convert it into other hormones. Levels are at their highest in early adulthood and decline gradually from around your thirties. In supplements, DHEA is produced in a laboratory from diosgenin, a compound found in wild yam, and sold mostly as capsules.
