DHEA-S is the sulfate ester of DHEA and only a part of DHEA testing. 

Age-Dependent Ranges for DHEA-S:

Age:       DHEA-S:
20-39      60-750
40-60      30-350
>60         20-150

Understanding DHEA:

- DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is an endogenous steroid hormone made by both men and women in the adrenal gland, predominantly, and to a lesser degree in the brain and gonads. 

- DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Natural DHEA levels peak in early adulthood and then slowly fall as you age.

- You will see that the three big DHEA urine markers are: DHEA-S, Etiocholanolone (metabolite) and Androsterone (metabolite).

- It is important to note that DHEA and not DHEA-S makes testosterone and/or estrone (E1)

What does it mean if your DHEA-S (Urine) result is too high?

DHEA-S levels can be high because overall DHEA levels are high.

- Stress: DHEA will also increase in response to cortisol. DHEA can counter the effect of cortisol in the brain. So if you have a lot of stress in your life the high DHEA level might be lowered by reducing overall stress and potentially supplements to get the cortisol back into the normal range. Once the cortisol issue has been addressed the DHEA might come down as well if it was related.

- In addition, medications such as Ritalin, Xanax (alprazolam), Wellbutrin (bupropion), Arimidex, Norvasc (amlodipine), Procardia, diltiazem, and alcohol will raise DHEA levels.

- High DHEA levels can be associated with PCOS

- DHEA supplementation. If your androgenic metabolism favors the 5-alpha pathway, you might get androgenic side effects (irritation, facial hair, losing scalp hair, angriness, etc). Look at the downstream metabolites to see if you favor the alpha pathway.

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

What does it mean if your DHEA-S (Urine) result is too low?

Understanding Low DHEA-S Levels on a DUTCH Test

What Does Low DHEA-S Mean?

DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate) is a stable, long-term indicator of adrenal androgen production. Since it is derived from DHEA, its levels provide insight into adrenal function, stress response, and overall hormone metabolism.

Low DHEA-S levels can indicate adrenal insufficiency, chronic stress, inflammation, or hormonal imbalances. To get a full picture, it’s essential to compare DHEA-S with other adrenal metabolites, such as Androsterone and Etiocholanolone, which are downstream metabolites of DHEA.


Possible Scenarios & Their Implications

1. DHEA-S Low / Androsterone Low / Etiocholanolone Low

  • Interpretation: Overall DHEA production is low, suggesting adrenal insufficiency or dysfunction.
  • Next Steps:
    • Look at the main DHEA marker for more details.
    • Assess cortisol levels to check for adrenal fatigue or dysregulation.
    • Consider nutrient deficiencies (vitamin C, magnesium, cholesterol, B vitamins) that impact DHEA synthesis.

2. DHEA-S Low / Androsterone Normal / Etiocholanolone Normal

  • Interpretation: DHEA is being produced and metabolized, but DHEA-S is disproportionately low. This pattern suggests inflammation is inhibiting DHEA sulfation (conversion to DHEA-S).
  • Potential Causes:
    • Chronic inflammation (autoimmune disorders, infections, oxidative stress).
    • Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and metabolic disorders may be involved.
    • Elevated cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) suppress sulfation, reducing DHEA-S production.
  • Next Steps:
    • Assess for acute or chronic inflammation (CRP, ESR, or inflammatory conditions).
    • Look at lifestyle factors that contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance, or oxidative stress.
    • Support anti-inflammatory strategies (diet, stress management, targeted supplementation).

How Low DHEA-S Affects Hormonal Balance

Because DHEA-S serves as a precursor for testosterone and estrogen, low levels may contribute to:

  • Low libido and reduced sexual function
  • Fatigue, muscle loss, and difficulty maintaining muscle mass
  • Mood imbalances (irritability, anxiety, depression)
  • Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
  • Poor stress resilience and low motivation

If low DHEA-S is accompanied by hormonal imbalances in testosterone or estrogen, further investigation may be needed.


Addressing Low DHEA-S Levels

1. Manage Chronic Stress and Support the HPA Axis

  • Reduce chronic stress (psychological and physiological).
  • Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep.
  • Use relaxation techniques (meditation, deep breathing, gentle exercise).

2. Optimize Nutritional Intake for Adrenal Function

  • Ensure adequate healthy fats (cholesterol is a precursor to DHEA).
  • Increase intake of vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins.
  • Avoid excessive calorie restriction, which can suppress adrenal function.

3. Reduce Inflammation and Address Insulin Resistance

  • Anti-inflammatory diet: Prioritize omega-3 fatty acids, leafy greens, turmeric, and antioxidants.
  • Blood sugar regulation: Reduce refined carbohydrates to support insulin sensitivity.
  • Exercise: Moderate-intensity resistance and cardiovascular training can improve insulin function and HPA axis resilience.

4. Consider Targeted Adaptogenic Support

  • Rhodiola, ashwagandha, and holy basil support adrenal recovery.
  • DHEA supplementation may be considered under medical supervision.
  • Phosphatidylserine can help modulate high cortisol levels that contribute to adrenal depletion.

Final Thoughts

A low DHEA-S level on a DUTCH test can provide valuable insights into adrenal function, inflammation, and overall hormone metabolism. Comparing DHEA-S with its downstream metabolites (Androsterone and Etiocholanolone) helps differentiate between adrenal insufficiency and inflammation-driven DHEA metabolism issues. Addressing stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances can help restore optimal DHEA-S levels and improve overall health and vitality.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image