# DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplements

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/dhea-supplements/  
OnCo record `dhea-supplements` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

DHEA is an adrenal hormone sold as an anti-ageing supplement. The body converts it into oestrogen and testosterone, so it should not be taken by people with hormone-sensitive breast or prostate cancer: it is linked to tamoxifen resistance and to prostate cancer growing despite hormone treatment. A prescribed vaginal form for dryness is a separate matter for your team.

## Summary

DHEA and its sulfate are the most abundant adrenal hormones and are precursors of oestrogens and androgens. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs entry records that higher DHEA levels have been associated with increased ovarian and breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, that elevated DHEA-S contributed to tamoxifen resistance and disease progression in breast cancer, that a patient with advanced prostate cancer had a flare while taking DHEA, and that in men on androgen deprivation for recurrent prostate cancer, rising DHEA and androsterone were associated with a shorter time to castration resistance. MSK states that DHEA should not be used with tamoxifen. Outside cancer, DHEA did not improve muscle mass, physical performance, cognition or perimenopausal symptoms in older people. Vaginal DHEA improved painful intercourse and genitourinary symptoms in menopausal women and in female cancer survivors, and improved vaginal cytology in women with breast or gynaecological cancers; that is a local treatment whose safety in hormone-sensitive cancer is a decision for the treating team. Side effects include acne and, at high doses, mania.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: negative
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: DHEA; Dehydroepiandrosterone; DHEA-S
- Tags: complementary; supportive-care; evidence:harm
- Principle: A prohormone converted in tissues into oestradiol, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which is exactly what hormonal treatments for breast and prostate cancer aim to remove or block.
- Strengths: Vaginal DHEA has trial support for genitourinary symptoms, including in cancer survivors
- Limitations: Contraindicated with tamoxifen; Associated with prostate cancer progression on androgen deprivation; No benefit for muscle, cognition or vitality in older adults

## Sources

- MSK About Herbs: Dehydroepiandrosterone (page last updated 25 October 2023): https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/dehydroepiandrosterone

## Connected records

- technologies: [Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms](https://onco.cc/technologies/dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions/), [Diindolylmethane (DIM)](https://onco.cc/technologies/diindolylmethane-dim/), [Endocrine therapy (SERMs, AIs, SERDs)](https://onco.cc/technologies/endocrine-therapy/), [Evidence-based integrative oncology](https://onco.cc/technologies/integrative-oncology/), [Red clover isoflavones](https://onco.cc/technologies/red-clover-isoflavones/), [Wild yam and 'natural progesterone' creams](https://onco.cc/technologies/wild-yam-cream/)
- cancers: [HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/breast-hr-positive/), [Ovarian cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/ovarian/), [Prostate cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/prostate/)
- fronts: [Hormonal Therapy](https://onco.cc/fronts/hormonal/), [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- drugs: [Tamoxifen](https://onco.cc/drugs/tamoxifen/)
- bottlenecks: [Misinformation and unproven therapies](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-misinformation/), [Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-toxicity-qol/)

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