Low DHEA Symptoms in Men: DHEA-S Levels, Testing and Whether DHEA Supplements Help

Short answer: Low DHEA symptoms in men are vague: lower sex drive, erectile problems and fatigue are the ones most often linked to it, but these overlap with many other causes. A low DHEA-S blood result is most often a normal part of aging, and less often a sign of an adrenal or pituitary problem such as Addison disease or hypopituitarism, or the effect of glucocorticoid (steroid) medicines. In the largest long-term trial in older men, a DHEA supplement brought levels back up but produced little if any real benefit, so the right first step is a doctor’s review, not a bottle of DHEA.

Key Takeaways

• DHEA-S falls with age in every man. MedlinePlus reference ranges for men drop from 110 to 510 mcg/dL at ages 18 to 29 to under 204 mcg/dL after 59.^[2]
• Symptoms are not specific. Reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction are listed as age-related signs, while weight loss, dizziness, nausea and salt cravings point toward an adrenal problem that needs prompt care.^[1]
• Medical causes matter. Low results can come from Addison disease, hypopituitarism or glucocorticoid medicines.^[2]
• DHEA for men has weak evidence. A 2 year NEJM trial in older men found “little if any beneficial effect” from restoring DHEA levels.^[5]
• DHEA is a hormone, not a herb. Mayo Clinic rates it “Avoid” for antiaging use, and it is banned in sport at all times.^[4][6]

What DHEA and DHEA-S Are

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands, with smaller amounts made in the testes and brain.^[3] The body uses it as a building block to make testosterone and estrogen.^[1][4] Blood tests usually measure its sulfated form, called DHEA-S (or DHEAS).^[1]

DHEA-S is classed as an androgen, meaning a male-type hormone, and it plays a role in male sexual development at puberty.^[1] After that, its main clinical use is as a marker of how well the adrenal glands are working.

Why levels fall with age

DHEA-S peaks around puberty and the early 20s, then declines steadily for the rest of life.^[1][3] This decline is expected and happens to everyone. That is why a “low” number in a 60 year old man means something very different from the same number in a 25 year old. Lab reports use age-based reference ranges for exactly this reason.

Normal DHEA-S Levels in Men by Age

The table below shows the reference ranges published by MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Ranges vary slightly from lab to lab, so always compare your result to the range printed on your own report.^[2]

Two things stand out. First, the ranges are wide: a healthy 45 year old can sit anywhere from 45 to 345 mcg/dL. Second, the lower limit keeps dropping with age, so a value that would be flagged at 30 may be normal at 55.

Low DHEA Symptoms: What Is Linked and What Is Not

There is no single “low DHEA” symptom pattern. MedlinePlus separates two situations that can produce a low result, and they look very different.^[1]

Age-related low DHEA-S

When low DHEA-S simply reflects aging, the symptoms listed include reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction in men.^[1] Harvard Health notes that the natural decline has also been associated with changes in cognition and mood.^[3] The key word is associated: these changes happen at the same ages DHEA-S falls, but that does not prove DHEA-S causes them. Lower testosterone, poor sleep, weight gain, blood pressure and diabetes are all more common with age too, and each can produce the same complaints.

Low DHEA-S from an adrenal or pituitary problem

When the adrenal glands themselves are failing (adrenal insufficiency or Addison disease), symptoms can include weight loss, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dehydration and salt cravings.^[1] This is a medical condition that needs a doctor promptly, because other adrenal hormones such as cortisol are usually involved. Hypopituitarism, where the pituitary gland underproduces one or more hormones, can also lower DHEA-S.^[1][2]

Medicines that lower DHEA-S

Glucocorticoid medicines (for example, prednisone used for asthma, arthritis or autoimmune conditions) are a listed cause of lower results.^[2] Do not stop a steroid medicine on your own to “fix” a lab number: stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Ask the prescriber.

How the DHEA-S Test Works

The DHEA sulfate test is a simple blood draw from a vein in the arm, usually taking less than five minutes, and no special preparation is needed.^[1] Tell the clinician if you take any supplement that contains DHEA or DHEA-S, because it will raise the result.^[2]

Doctors usually order DHEA-S to check adrenal function, look for adrenal tumors, or investigate puberty problems, and it is often run alongside testosterone.^[1] For a man worried about energy or libido, testosterone testing is generally more informative. Our guides on signs of low testosterone and free vs total testosterone explain what those numbers mean.

Questions to bring to your appointment

• Is my result low for my age, or only low compared with young adults?
• Do my symptoms or other labs suggest an adrenal or pituitary problem?
• Could any medicine I take, including steroid inhalers or creams, affect the result?
• Should testosterone, cortisol or other hormones be checked as well?

DHEA for Men: What Supplement Trials Found

DHEA is sold over the counter in the United States as tablets, capsules, powders, creams and gels, and it is heavily marketed as an antiaging product.^[4] The evidence is far weaker than the marketing.

The 2 year Mayo Clinic trial in older men

The best known study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 by K. Sreekumaran Nair and colleagues at Mayo Clinic.^[5] It enrolled older adults with low androgen levels, including 87 men. Men received DHEA 75 mg a day, a 5 mg testosterone patch, or placebo for 24 months.

• DHEA raised DHEA-S and estradiol levels as expected.
• Fat-free mass rose by less than 0.5 kg in the combined DHEA group, and body fat fell by less than 1.5%.
• Muscle strength, thigh muscle area and peak oxygen uptake did not differ meaningfully from placebo.
• Quality of life scores did not change significantly.
• Men on DHEA or testosterone had a small increase in bone density at the hip (femoral neck).

The authors concluded their data “provide no evidence that either DHEA or low-dose testosterone is an effective antiaging hormone supplement.”^[5] Note that men with prostate problems, active heart disease or cancer were excluded, so the study says nothing reassuring about those groups.

The wider evidence

Summaries from Mayo Clinic and Harvard Health line up with that trial:^[3][4]

• Aging: no good evidence that DHEA slows aging, and no proven benefit for cognition, bone strength, muscle strength or physical performance in older adults.
• Muscle and athletic performance: mostly no effect in younger or older adults.
• Sexual function: mixed results, with small improvements in some studies and no effect in others.
• Depression: some preliminary, low-quality evidence of benefit; not a first-line treatment.
• Adrenal insufficiency: a possible use under medical supervision, but more research is needed.

MedlinePlus states plainly that there is no reliable evidence that DHEA supplements prevent aging-related conditions.^[1][2]

DHEA Side Effects and Safety for Men

Because DHEA converts into both androgens and estrogens, it behaves like a hormone drug, not a nutrient. Harvard Health describes it as generally considered safe for up to two years at doses up to 50 mg a day, but warns that higher doses or longer use raise the risk of serious effects.^[3] Mayo Clinic goes further and marks DHEA as “Avoid” for antiaging use.^[4]

Reported side effects and risks

• Acne, oily skin, upset stomach and mood changes.^[3][4]
• Possible drop in HDL (“good”) cholesterol.^[3][4]
• Scalp hair loss and higher blood pressure (androgen effects).^[6]
• Possible higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers, including prostate cancer, with high doses or long-term use.^[4][6]
• Irritability, impulsiveness, and a risk of mania in people with mood disorders.^[3][4]
• Interference with insulin and blood sugar control in people with diabetes.^[3]

Drug interactions

Mayo Clinic warns against combining DHEA with testosterone, which can cause low sperm count and breast enlargement (gynecomastia) in men. It also lists interactions with estrogen, certain antidepressants and the sedative triazolam.^[4] Harvard Health adds blood thinners and some cancer treatments.^[3]

Quality and sport

DHEA supplements are not FDA-approved drugs, and Mayo Clinic notes that quality control is often low.^[3][4] USADA reports that more than 150 supplements on its High Risk List contain or claim to contain DHEA, and that some products hide it under other names such as prasterone, androstenolone or 7-keto-DHEA. DHEA is on the WADA Prohibited List as an anabolic agent and is “prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition.”^[6] Tested athletes should avoid it entirely. Our guide to harmful ingredients in supplements covers how to spot hidden hormones on a label.

Who Should Avoid DHEA or Talk to a Doctor First

• Men with prostate cancer, breast cancer or any hormone-sensitive cancer, or a strong family history of one.^[4]
• Men with high cholesterol or heart disease.^[4]
• Anyone with liver problems.^[3]
• Men with depression, bipolar disorder or another mood disorder.^[3][4]
• Men with diabetes or on blood sugar medicine.^[3]
• Anyone using testosterone, estrogen, antidepressants or blood thinners.^[3][4]
• Competitive athletes subject to drug testing.^[6]

See a doctor promptly, rather than self-treating, if a low DHEA-S result comes with unexplained weight loss, dizziness, vomiting or salt cravings.^[1]

Practical Steps After a Low DHEA-S Result

For most men over 40, a low-normal DHEA-S needs no treatment at all. A sensible plan is to confirm the result against your age range, rule out medical and medication causes with your doctor, check related hormones if symptoms suggest it, and work on the basics that affect how you feel day to day: sleep, body weight, activity and alcohol. Our sleep routines guide for men is a good place to start.

Where Ultra Bann fits

Ultra Bann does not contain DHEA or any hormone. It is a botanical male vitality supplement by DL Bioproducts with seven herbs listed with exact amounts on the label, no proprietary blend, taken as one capsule every 2 days. You can read the full Ultra Bann ingredient label or visit the Ultra Bann shop. It is not a substitute for a medical workup of an abnormal lab result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of low DHEA in men?

MedlinePlus lists reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction as age-related signs. If low DHEA-S comes from an adrenal problem, weight loss, nausea, dizziness, dehydration and salt cravings may appear. Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, a blood test and a clinician’s review are needed to sort out the cause.

Is low DHEA-S normal with age?

Yes. DHEA-S peaks in early adulthood and declines throughout life. MedlinePlus reference ranges for men fall from 110 to 510 mcg/dL at ages 18 to 29 to under 204 mcg/dL after 59, so compare your result to the range for your age.

Should men take DHEA supplements?

Not without a doctor’s advice. In a 2 year trial, older men taking 75 mg a day saw DHEA-S levels rise but gained almost no measurable benefit in strength, fitness or quality of life. DHEA also carries hormone-related risks, including possible effects on prostate cancer risk and HDL cholesterol.

Does DHEA increase testosterone in men?

DHEA is a precursor the body can turn into testosterone and estrogen. In the NEJM trial, DHEA raised DHEA-S and estradiol in older men, while the testosterone patch, not DHEA, was the treatment that raised bioavailable testosterone.

What can cause low DHEA-S besides aging?

Adrenal insufficiency (including Addison disease), hypopituitarism and glucocorticoid medicines such as prednisone are the causes listed by MedlinePlus. These need a doctor’s assessment.

References

1. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). DHEA Sulfate Test.
2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. DHEA-sulfate test.
3. Fisher J. DHEA supplements: Are they safe? Or effective? Harvard Health Publishing, 2025.
4. Mayo Clinic. DHEA. Drugs and Supplements.
5. Healio Endocrine Today. DHEA, low-dose testosterone largely ineffective as antiaging therapies (reporting Nair KS, Rizza RA, O’Brien P, et al. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:1647 to 1659).
6. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. What Should Athletes Know about DHEA?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.