DHEA may help depression that starts in middle age

Researchers studying the antidepressant benefits of the natural, over-the-counter supplement DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) say it may help alleviate depression that starts in middle age. DHEA is a natural steroid hormone produced by the human body, and is used by the body to make androstenedione, testosterone and estrogen.

DHEA for depression

The authors of the study, published in the medical journal American Family Physician, write that DHEA may be useful for alleviating some of the symptoms of minor and major depression. They studied 52 adults aged 45 to 65 years of age whose depression started less than 5 years previous. The researchers gave each patient 30 mg of DHEA three times a day for three weeks, followed by 150 mg three times a day for three weeks.

They write that:

"A 50 percent or greater reduction in baseline scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was reported by 23 patients (50 percent) after DHEA treatment compared with 13 patients. (28 percent) after placebo treatment."

It's important to note that DHEA treatment only appeared to help 50 percent of the patients in the study, and that none of the patients achieved a full remission from depression, they only achieved partial remission.

How to interpret this study

The authors conclude:

"Bottom Line: DHEA is moderately effective in the treatment of midlife-onset depression. Because other treatments have been studied for longer periods, it makes sense to use these approaches first until we have more long-term studies of DHEA."

This study has a small sample size (only 52 people), so it should be regarded with caution. It doesn't prove DHEA to be an effective antidepressant, and it doesn't seem to track potential side effects of taking DHEA as a supplement for depression. As with all supplements and drugs, I think it's best to discuss taking DHEA with your doctor.

This post is part of a series on Natural supplements to beat depression