ABSTRACT

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the most abundant steroid hormone in circulation, is widely consumed as a drug for a multiple range of therapeutic actions, including hormonal replacement (Legrain and Girard 2003), treatment of weight loss (Kurzman, Macewen, and Haffa 1990), and the improvement of aging-related diseases (Wolkowitz et al. 2003). Another issue to consider is that DHEA is also used at pharmacological or supraphysiological doses by ‰tness apprentices and athletes for muscle-building purposes (Labrie et al. 2006). Observations in human population trials, animal models, and in vitro ‰ndings support the potential utility of DHEA as a possible therapeutic intervention. Yet, DHEA was considered a “fountain of youth” hormone worldwide (Baulieu 1996). A signi‰cant clinical interest in this steroid is based on many observations, including the decline of DHEA production after early adulthood and evidence in literature showing changes in DHEA levels associated with multiple pathologies. However, a great controversy on this subject still remains, and no suf‰cient data are available in literature to support its secure recommendation.