DHEA Benefits for Men

Are you looking to re-discover your masculinity, strengthen your muscles, boost your mood, and improve your performance in and outside the gym? Check out DHEA:

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor hormone produced from cholesterol in the exterior of your adrenal gland – also known as the “adrenal cortex.”

By itself, the hormone, the most abundant circulating steroid in the human body, wields little biological influence. However, conversion into other hormones like testosterone and estrogen can make DHEA very powerful. 

Research published by sources like Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and the National Institute of Health (NIH) reveals that the hormone, when converted, may influence many aspects of your well-being, including your bone density, cardiovascular function, sexual health, weight management, hormonal balance, and mental health.

However, DHEA levels decrease rapidly as we age, up to 80%. After the age of 30, many men, in particular, find themselves deficient in the hormone, leading to its recent rise in popularity as a supplement. 

Let’s explore the benefits of DHEA for men to help you decide if supplementation is right for you:

Enhanced Sexual Function

As DHEA converts into testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, it is little surprise that scientists repeatedly study its effect on men’s sexual function. Almost 40% of men over the age of 45 suffer from low testosterone (low “T”), which can lead to loss of body hair, low sex drive, loss of muscle mass, and erectile dysfunction (ED).  

Peer-reviewed, well-cited studies from the National Institute of Health (NIH) on the links between DHEA levels and ED incidence and the use of DHEA to treat ED indicate that male patients who supplement with DHEA may be less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. 

These studies consistently draw a link between older men with low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and increased erectile dysfunction, even when other preexisting conditions are taken into account.

As erectile dysfunction is a common, distressing affliction affecting half of men between 40 and 70, this purported benefit is one of DHEA’s most well-known and promising. 

Improved Adrenal Sufficiency

Your adrenal glands, located at the top of both kidneys, are responsible for producing essential hormones that regulate your blood pressure, stress responses, immune function, metabolism, and more. 

Adrenal insufficiency, which can develop into Addison’s disease, occurs when your adrenal glands fail to produce the essential hormones required to ensure optimal bodily function. Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, poor appetite, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain.

Alongside cortisol, the essential “stress hormone,” DHEA production is often insufficient in those battling adrenal insufficiency.

According to research from the National Institute of Health (NIH), male patients that supplement with DHEA can often address their insufficiency and reduce the severity of their symptoms.

In some cases, this supplementation can further “positively influence mood, sexuality and subjective health status” for those with inhibited adrenal glands.  

Pro Tip: For more information on the essential functions of cortisol, check out Ultimate Nutrition’s In-Depth Guide to Cortisol. 

Stronger Body Composition

“Body composition” is a term many medical professionals use to discuss the percentages of muscle, bone, and fat in the body, often to help an individual find their ideal weight.

Understanding your body composition is critical to building nutrition, exercise, and supplementation plans. Someone at the same height and weight as you may have a vastly different balance of muscle mass and fat on their body, dictating different strategies to help you reach your respective fitness goals.

A multi-study review published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) detailed the effect of DHEA supplementation on men over 40 who suffered from poor body composition: an unhealthy ratio of body fat to muscle.

The findings suggested that DHEA supplements can help older men reduce their levels of unhealthy fat mass and increase their muscle strength. Over time, this process produced, at minimum, “a small but significant positive effect on body composition.”

While more research is required, these results are undoubtedly encouraging and partially explain the rise of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation among older men who regularly exercise.

Other Potential Benefits

In addition to the three benefits discussed above, there are a couple of purported benefits tied to DHEA supplementation that serve as focuses of rigorous scientific study worldwide:

Improved Bone Density

Bone density is also a critical if oft-overlooked area of healthy body composition.

Ideal bone density protects you from fractures, breaks, and sprains, promoting a healthy, active lifestyle with minimum injury. Low bone density leads to weaker bones and increases your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that can dramatically lower your quality of life.

Preliminary research published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that the metabolites of DHEA – primarily estrogen in women and testosterone in men – can help maintain healthy bone homeostasis due to the “significant association between DHEA and increased bone mineral density.”  

Improved Skin Health

According to research detailed by the Mayo Clinic, dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation can help protect your skin as it ages, promoting better hydration and firmness. These benefits can improve the look and feel of your skin and its ability to retain nutrients and flush away toxins.

Furthermore, the same study suggests that DHEA can help reduce the incidence of aging spots on the skin of elderly adults.

The Best DHEA Supplement: Ultimate Nutrition’s Premium DHEA

Here at Ultimate Nutrition, we dedicate ourselves to producing world-class supplements to boost your physical performance and help you get the best out of yourself. Our Premium DHEA supplement, a part of our Platinum Series, offers precisely that.

This popular supplement helps replenish the 50% of DHEA most men lose by age 40, subsequently increasing the levels of androstenedione, testosterone, and other steroid hormone metabolites also lost with age. 

Alongside a healthy meal plan, regular exercise, and responsible supplementation, Ultimate Nutrition DHEA is an excellent ally in pursuing a healthier, happier, fitter you.

Explore all of Ultimate Nutrition’s supplements HERE.