Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Other names: DHEA, Serum

Optimal result: 31 – 701 ng/dL

Updated April 9, 2026

By Healthmatters Editorial Team

Peer-reviewed sources

In clinical practice measurement of serum DHEA-S is preferred over serum DHEA, since DHEA-S has no circadian variation and longer half life.

Serum DHEA-S maybe increased in:

- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

- Androgen-secreting adrenal carcinoma

- Cushing's disease (elevated ACTH)

- Ectopic ACTH secreting tumor

- Premature adrenarche

In clinical practice measurement of serum DHEA-S is preferred over serum DHEA, since DHEA-S has no circadian variation and longer half life.

Serum DHEA-S maybe decrease in:

- Cortisol secreting adrenal adenoma

- Adrenal insufficiency

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid that is produced by both the adrenal cortex and the testis. The levels of this steroid increase before the onset of puberty (adrenarche) and decrease significantly with age.

DHEA and DHEA-S are the major precursors of 17-ketosteroids.

References:

de Peretti E, Forest MG. Unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone plasma levels in normal subjects from birth to adolescence in human: the use of a sensitive radioimmunoassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1976 Nov;43(5):982-91. doi: 10.1210/jcem-43-5-982. PMID: 186482.

Dutheil F, de Saint Vincent S, Pereira B, Schmidt J, Moustafa F, Charkhabi M, Bouillon-Minois JB, Clinchamps M. DHEA as a Biomarker of Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 6;12:688367. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.688367. PMID: 34295276; PMCID: PMC8290065.

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