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DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosteron.svg
Dehidroepiandrosterona3D.png
Clinical data
Trade names Astenile, Cetovister, 17-Chetovis, Dastonil S, Deandros, Diandrone, Hormobago, 17-Hormoforin, 17-Ketovis, Mentalormon, Psicosterone
Routes of
administration
By mouth, intramuscular injection (as prasterone enanthate)
ATC code
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 50%
Metabolism Hepatic
Metabolites Androsterone
Etiocholanolone
DHEA sulfate
Androstenedione
Androstenediol
Testosterone
Androstanediol
Biological half-life DHEA: 25 minutes
DHEA-S: 11 hours
Excretion Urinary
Legal status
Legal status
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.160
Identifiers
Synonyms Androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one; 3β-Hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one; 5,6-Didehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroisoepiandrosterone
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEBI
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
Formula C19H28O2
Molar mass 288.424 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)
Melting point 148.5 °C (299.3 °F)
  

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), also known as androstenolone or prasterone (INN), is an endogenous steroid hormone. It is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in humans, in whom it is produced in the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the brain, where it functions predominantly as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the androgen and estrogen sex steroids. However, DHEA also has a variety of potential biological effects in its own right, binding to an array of nuclear and cell surface receptors, and acting as a neurosteroid.

In women with adrenal insufficiency and the healthy elderly there is insufficient evidence to support the use of DHEA.

DHEA is sometimes used as an androgen in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause. A long-lasting ester prodrug of DHEA, prasterone enanthate, is used in combination with estradiol valerate for this indication.

DHEA is produced naturally in the human body, but the long-term effects of its use are largely unknown. In the short term, several studies have noted few adverse effects. In a study by Chang et al., DHEA was administered at a dose of 200 mg/day for 24 weeks with slight androgenic effects noted. Another study utilized a dose up to 400 mg/day for 8 weeks with few adverse events reported. A longer term study followed patients dosed with 50 mg of DHEA for 12 months with the number and severity of side effects reported to be small. Another study delivered a dose of 50 mg of DHEA for 10 months with no serious adverse events reported.


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