Best DHEA Supplements – Top 10 Brands Reviewed for 2020

In order to help you find a good product, we’ve researched & narrowed down the best DHEA supplements on the market right now.

Top 10 DHEA Products Compared

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1. Natrol DHEA

Natrol DHEA is a high-quality DHEA product from Natrol. It comes in tablets that contain 50mg DHEA each; 10mg and 25mg dosage sizes are also available. Its tablets are 100% vegetarian and free of yeast, wheat, milk, soy, and artificial additives.

Specs

• Each tablet contains 50mg DHEA and 60mg calcium
• Vegetarian
• Hypoallergenic
• Affordable

Who Makes It?

Natrol is a California-based manufacturer of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements. Since the company was established over 35 years ago, it has been committed to providing customers with high-quality products to help them support their health and wellbeing.

Bottom Line

This is a great DHEA supplement at an affordable price, and its 50mg dosage form is convenient.

2. BulkSupplements Pure DHEA

This product is powdered, 100% pure DHEA. You will definitely need a milligram scale to measure the amount since it is such a tiny dose. The savings you make by buying this product over other brands will more than makeup for the cost of a decent scale.

Specs

• 100% pure DHEA powder
• Hypoallergenic
• Great price

Who Makes It?

Nevada-based BulkSupplements provides dietary supplements in bulk from grams to metric tons! Their FDA-approved facility abides by strict health code regulations, ensuring the safety and efficacy of their product.

Bottom Line

This is one of the cheapest and best DHEA supplements you can buy. You will need a milligram scale to measure the doses.

3. Sundown Naturals DHEA

Sundown Naturals DHEA capsules contain 50mg DHEA each. This product is non-GMO and free of gluten, dairy, and artificial flavors and preservatives.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 50mg DHEA
• Vegetarian
• Non-GMO
• Gluten-free
• No artificial additives

Who Makes It?

Sundown Naturals is committed to providing products that are as natural as possible. Their entire product line is 100% GMO-free. Sundown Naturals’ 40-year history of making top-quality dietary supplements has earned them a loyal customer following.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a strong DHEA supplement that is priced competitively, this is a great choice.

4. Life Extension DHEA

This non-GMO product contains 25mg DHEA per capsule. The capsules contain gelatin, so people with gelatin sensitivity should steer clear.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 25mg DHEA
• Non-GMO
• Affordable
• Contains gelatin

Who Makes It?

This product is made by Life Extension, a manufacturer of premium nutritional supplements that have been in business for over 35 years. Life Extension rigorously tests their ingredients and finished products for purity and potency. To date, Life Extension has donated over $175 in funding to support anti-aging research.

Bottom Line

This is a very good DHEA supplement that is priced competitively. People who are sensitive to gelatin are advised to avoid this product.

5. Jarrow Formulas DHEA

These DHEA pills are made by Jarrow Formulas and contain 25mg DHEA each. This dosage form is a good place to start if this is your first time taking DHEA.

Jarrow Formulas DHEA is vegetarian and free of wheat, gluten, nuts, and dairy derivatives.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 25mg DHEA
• Gluten-free and hypoallergenic
• Vegetarian

Who Makes It?

Founded in 1977, Los Angeles-based Jarrow Formulas is a premium nutritional supplement manufacturer. Their stated goal is to provide customers with effective, high-quality products that are based on scientific research.

Bottom Line

Jarrow Formulas DHEA is another great DHEA supplement. The dosage form is good for most use cases.

6. Pure Encapsulations – DHEA

Pure Encapsulations DHEA capsules contain 10mg micronized (very fine particles) DHEA each. This product is vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 10mg DHEA
• Micronized for better absorption
• Vegan
• Gluten-free and non-GMO
• Less potent than other brands

Who Makes It?

Pure Encapsulations prides itself on providing research-based dietary supplements that are rigorously quality-controlled to provide the desired results predictably. They use only premium quality ingredients and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes in their Massachusetts-based facility.

Bottom Line

This is an effective DHEA supplement, but the 10mg dose is less potent than competitors, especially considering the price.

7. Country Life Vitamins DHEA

If you’re new to using DHEA supplements, these are some of the best DHEA pills to start with. The 10mg dose per capsule should be quite safe, and you can increase the dose as needed. Country Life DHEA is vegan and certified gluten-free.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 10mg DHEA
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Price is a little high for the dose you get

Who Makes It?

Country Life was founded in Long Island, NY in 1971. They were the first supplement manufacturer to receive the certification for being completely gluten-free, marking their status as an industry leader. Country Life pledges to use only clean, fresh ingredients and to use laboratory testing to verify their authenticity.

Bottom Line

This product is a great introduction to DHEA, but the price per milligram is a little high.

8. Zhou Nutrition DHEA

Zhou Nutrition makes a DHEA supplement that contains 50mg DHEA per capsule. This product is made in GMP-compliant facilities and is lab-tested for purity and potency.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 50mg DHEA
• Non-GMO
• Free of gluten, soy, milk, eggs, and nuts
• No preservatives or artificial ingredients
• A little expensive

Who Makes It?

This product is made by Zhou Nutrition, a US-based manufacturer of nutritional supplements. They source the highest quality ingredients from around the world and employ rigorous quality control measures to ensure that their products are consistently effective.

Bottom Line

These are very good DHEA pills, but the price is a little high.

9. Havasu Nutrition DHEA

Havasu Nutrition DHEA is a high-quality DHEA supplement that is made in a GMP-compliant, FDA-registered facility in the USA. The product is third-party-tested for purity and quality.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 50mg DHEA
• GMP-compliant facility
• Comes with a 60 days money-back guarantee
• Expensive

Who Makes It?

Havasu Nutrition is a Florida-based company that makes premium nutritional supplements. They are committed to making effective products to help people live longer and healthier lives.

Bottom Line

Havasu Nutrition DHEA is a great product, but the price is a bit high.

10. aSquared Nutrition Pure DHEA

This is one of the more powerful DHEA supplements you can buy today. At 100mg per capsule, it is up to 10 times more potent than many competitors. This product is made in GMP-compliant facilities and is subjected to stringent testing and quality control measures.

Specs

• Each capsule contains 100mg DHEA
• Very high potency
• Manufactured in a GMP-compliant facility
• Comes with a money-back guarantee
• Contains gelatin

Who Makes It?

aSquared is a US-based manufacturer and seller of nutritional supplements. Their facilities are FDA-registered and GMP-compliant, and their products undergo rigorous testing at every step of the manufacturing process.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a very potent DHEA supplement, you have found it. The high dose may be associated with a higher risk of side effects.

Frequently Asked Questions About DHEA Supplements

What is DHEA?

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural hormone that belongs to the steroid class of hormones. It is made by the adrenal glands in both men and women, and in the testes in men.

DHEA is considered a “prohormone” because it gets converted in the body to other hormones, namely testosterone and estrogen (male and female sex hormones, respectively). Most of the effects of DHEA are due to this conversion, but it also has some biological effects of its own.

The body’s natural levels of DHEA peak around the mid-20s, after which they gradually decline with age.

What Are the Uses & Benefits of DHEA?

Due to the fact that DHEA is a precursor of sex hormones, it has been speculated to have a wide range of effects. Scientists have studied the potential uses of DHEA to find out whether the claims about it are true. Research that investigated the following DHEA benefits has yielded positive results:

• Skin: Research shows that DHEA supplementation may increase the thickness, hydration, and overall health and appearance of the skin in aging adults.
• Bones: Multiple studies have suggested that DHEA supplementation can increase bone mineral density and protect against osteoporosis. However, other studies failed to note any improvements. More research into this is required.
• Symptoms of menopause: Some research suggests that women in menopause may benefit from DHEA replacement therapy.
• Vaginal atrophy: Local application of DHEA was found to reduce vaginal dryness and increase the thickness of the vaginal walls. This can reduce pain during sex in postmenopausal women.
• Fertility: In two studies, daily supplementation with 75mg DHEA resulted in a modest increase in fertility in women undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).
• Inflammation: Some metabolites of DHEA may possess anti-inflammatory properties.
• Lupus: Some research suggests that taking DHEA along with the regular medication may reduce the frequency of flare-ups.
• Muscle and fat mass: In one study, short-term administration of very high doses of DHEA appeared to reduce fat mass and increase muscle mass. Another study on rats suggested that DHEA supplementation was associated with higher satiety and a reduction in food intake. With that said, most existing research suggests that DHEA is not effective at increasing muscle mass or performance.

*Currently, no scientific evidence supports the use of DHEA as a standalone therapy or replacement for normal medications for any of the above use cases. Consult your doctor before using DHEA supplements.

How Do I Take DHEA?

DHEA is not like your typical vitamin or herbal supplement; it is a powerful hormonal substance that can interact with many body systems. For this reason, it is recommended that you only take DHEA under a doctor’s supervision.

In most use cases, a 20 to 50mg DHEA dosage per day should be plenty. However, studies investigating DHEA for depression have used doses as high as 500mg daily, and one study even used doses of up to 1600mg daily for four weeks. It is unclear what the ideal dose is at this point.

Are There Any Side Effects of DHEA?

DHEA doses of 50mg per day have been safely used in clinical studies for up to 12 months, and 25mg daily for up to two years.

High doses were not evaluated for safety in the long term.

Side effects may include acne, hair loss, elevated blood pressure, stomach cramps, headache, and insomnia.

Since DHEA is a precursor of testosterone, women taking it may experience a deepening of the voice, facial hair growth, and menstrual irregularities. Women should speak with their doctor before taking DHEA.

DHEA may interact with the action of some medications.

People with the following conditions are advised to avoid taking DHEA:

• Diabetes
• Prostate, breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer
• Elevated cholesterol
• Liver problems

How Do I Pick a Good DHEA Product?

Some DHEA supplements were tested and found to contain no actual DHEA while others had a higher content than advertised. To avoid this, stick with reputable manufacturers that employ good manufacturing practices (GMP) and have a good track record of quality control and truthful labeling.

Some manufacturers label their products as “natural DHEA” when it contains soy or wild yam which can be converted to DHEA in laboratories. However, our bodies are actually unable to convert them to DHEA, so check the label carefully and avoid these.