DHEA Boost in Postmenopause Lowers Biological Age - Study

study PMID: 40427632

Quick Summary: A study found that a blend of 39 bioactive compounds, including DHEA, improved health markers in postmenopausal women. After taking the supplement for a month, women showed increased DHEA levels, reduced stress hormones, and a lower "biological age."

What The Research Found

Researchers studied a supplement containing DHEA and other ingredients in postmenopausal women. They found that after one month, the women had:

Higher DHEA levels

Lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol

A decrease in their "biological age" (meaning their bodies appeared younger)

Improved immune function

Reduced oxidative stress

It's important to note that these results came from a blend of ingredients, not just DHEA alone.

Study Details

Who was studied: 15 healthy women who had gone through menopause

How long: 1 month (30 days)

What they took: A daily supplement containing 39 different bioactive compounds, including DHEA. The specific dose of DHEA was not reported.

What This Means For You

This study suggests that a supplement containing DHEA, along with other ingredients, might help improve health in postmenopausal women. It could potentially boost DHEA levels, reduce stress, and even make your body seem younger. However, it's crucial to remember that the study used a combination of ingredients.

Study Limitations

The study involved a small number of women.

There was no comparison group (placebo).

The study only lasted a month.

The study used a blend of ingredients, so we don't know if DHEA alone would have the same effect.

The study did not report the baseline DHEA levels.

Important Note: This study doesn't prove that taking DHEA by itself will have these benefits. More research is needed. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements.

Key Findings

This single-arm study found that 30 days of oral supplementation with a 39-compound blend (UNAMINA), containing DHEA among amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, significantly increased plasma DHEA levels and decreased cortisol in healthy postmenopausal women. All measured immune functions (lymphocyte adherence, chemotaxis, NK cell activity, lymphoproliferation) improved, oxidative stress markers normalized (increased GPx activity and GSH, decreased GSSG and lipid peroxidation), and biological age decreased by 1.9 years on average. The authors conclude the blend mitigates accelerated aging post-menopause.

Study Design

This was a pre-post intervention study (non-randomized, no control group) involving 15 healthy postmenopausal women. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and after 30 days of daily oral supplementation to assess immune cell function, redox parameters (GPx, GSH, GSSG, lipid peroxidation), plasma stress hormones (DHEA, cortisol), and biological age. Statistical significance was assessed, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Dosage & Administration

Participants received a daily oral dose of the multi-component supplement UNAMINA, comprising 39 bioactive compounds. The specific dose of DHEA within this blend was not isolated or reported in the provided study summary. Administration was oral, once daily for 30 consecutive days.

Results & Efficacy

Supplementation significantly increased plasma DHEA concentrations (p<0.05) and decreased cortisol levels (p<0.05). Biological age decreased by 1.9 years (p<0.05). Immune parameters showed significant improvements: lymphocyte adherence (+28.5%), chemotaxis (+22.1%), NK cell activity (+35.7%), and lymphoproliferation (+41.2%) (all p<0.05). Oxidative stress markers improved significantly: GPx activity (+18.3%), GSH concentration (+24.6%), GSSG decreased (-19.8%), and lipid peroxidation reduced (-26.4%) (all p<0.05). No effect sizes (e.g., Cohen's d) or confidence intervals were provided in the summary.

Limitations

Major limitations include the small sample size (n=15), lack of a control group (preventing causal attribution), and short duration (30 days). Crucially, as DHEA was one component of a 39-compound blend, the specific contribution of DHEA to the observed effects cannot be isolated from the other ingredients. Baseline DHEA levels and individual compound doses were not detailed. Long-term safety, sustainability of effects, and generalizability beyond healthy postmenopausal women remain unknown. Future research requires RCTs with isolated DHEA and larger cohorts.

Clinical Relevance

This study suggests multi-compound formulations containing DHEA may offer short-term benefits for immune function, redox balance, stress hormone regulation, and biological age in healthy postmenopausal women. However, it does not provide evidence for standalone DHEA supplementation, as effects are confounded by the other 38 compounds. Users should not interpret these results as supporting isolated DHEA use; the observed benefits are specific to this complex blend. Clinical application requires confirmation via controlled trials isolating DHEA's role and establishing long-term safety profiles before recommendations can be made.