I recently got my testosterone and DHEA Sulfate levels tested. My testosterone was within range but my dhea sulfate was way below normal levels. Has anyone else had their DHEA levels tested?
DHEA Sulfate
Also known as:
DHEA-S
This test measures the amount of the steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-s) in the blood.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-s) is a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands. It is also produced to a lesser extent by the brain, as well as by the testes (in men) and ovaries (in women).
It is similar to the hormone DHEA but is produced in much higher quantities (up to 100x more). This makes DHEA-s significantly easier to measure, which is why most labs test levels of DHEA-s instead of regular DHEA levels [R].
Together with regular DHEA, DHEA-s is the most abundant steroid circulating in the blood and is the precursor to the sex hormones testosterone and estradiol (the primary estrogen). DHEA is important for:
physical and psychological well-being [R]
immune system function [R]
muscle strength [R]
insulin sensitivity [R]
cognitive function [R]
bone density [R]
reducing body fat [R]
decreasing inflammation [R]
preventing age-related skin damage (by stimulating collagen production) [R]
However, it is unclear whether DHEA-s exerts these effects directly or by increasing levels of other important hormones like testosterone and estradiol [R].