01Markers · Hormones

DHEA-S

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

A hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands that the body converts into testosterone and estrogen. Its level falls steadily with age.

Measured in: Blood (serum)
Units: µg/dL, µmol/L
Also called: DHEAS, DHEA sulfate

L-carnitine
Ashwagandha
L-theanine
HIIT
Creatine
Omega-3
Berberine
Collagen
Finnish sauna
Iron
Lion's mane
Magnesium
Melatonin
Milk thistle
NAC
NAD+
PQQ
Red yeast rice
Resveratrol
Taurine
Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
Vitamin C
Vitamin D3
Vitamin E
Vitamin K2
Zinc
Zone 2 cardio

DHEA-S across the 27 supplements and practices researched so far · best evidence first

AWhat moves DHEA-S

6 of 27 studied

In human studies, 2 of the 27 supplements and practices researched so far lowered DHEA-S and 1 raised it. 3 showed no change. 21 were never studied for it.

Supported 3
No effect 3
Conflicting 0
Not studied 21

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Moves it3

Human studies found a change. The grade reflects the studies behind it, from A (strongest) to D.

L-carnitineLowersGrade B

L-carnitine lowers DHEA-S.

Human trials · 3 studies linked

9 studies; insufficient dedicated effect data.

Efficacy Of Combined Nutritional And Pharmacological Interventions In PCOS: A Six Month Randomized Controlled Trial. (2026)
Oral carnitine supplementation reduces body weight and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (2016)
Salehpour S, Nazari L, Hoseini S, Hosseini MS, Azizi E, Ghasemnejad-Berenji H (2019)

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AshwagandhaRaisesGrade B

Ashwagandha raises DHEA-S.

Observational · 2 studies linked

Studied in: Overweight aging males, Stressed adults

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L-theanineLowersGrade B

L-theanine lowers DHEA-S.

Human trials · 1 study linked

Studied in: No human data

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cortisol to sulfate of dehydroepiandrosterone molar ratio associated with clinical response to L-theanine as augmentation of antipsychotic therapy (2011)

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Studied, no change3

Studies looked and found no meaningful change. That is a result, not missing data.

HIITNo changeGrade A

Studies of HIIT found no change in DHEA-S.

Meta-analysis or review · 1 study linked

Effectiveness of exercise interventions on androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025)

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CreatineNo changeGrade C

Studies of Creatine found no change in DHEA-S.

0 studies linked

This result is graded, but no study is linked to it yet. Treat it as unconfirmed.

Studied in: Healthy adults

No DHEA-S specific data available; no proposed mechanism for adrenal androgen modulation by creatine

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Omega-3No changeGrade D

Studies of Omega-3 found no change in DHEA-S.

Small effect · 0 studies linked

This result is graded, but no study is linked to it yet. Treat it as unconfirmed.

Studied in: Adult, General

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Not studied21

No usable human study has measured DHEA-S with these. A gap is not a negative result: nobody has looked.

BerberineCollagenFinnish saunaIronLion's maneMagnesiumMelatoninMilk thistleNACNAD+PQQRed yeast riceResveratrolTaurineUbiquinol (CoQ10)Vitamin CVitamin D3Vitamin EVitamin K2ZincZone 2 cardio

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