What is DHEA?
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands. It is a precursor to testosterone and estrogen and is often called the "hormone of vitality" or "anti-aging hormone."
Key Functions
- •Vitality — supports energy, mood, and resilience
- •Longevity — levels decline with age; maintaining balance supports healthy aging
- •Precursor — converts to testosterone and estrogen as needed
- •Stress balance — under chronic stress, cortisol rises and DHEA falls
Cortisol/DHEA Ratio
Chronic stress is associated with a shift in adrenal output from DHEA toward cortisol. ONDA does not measure DHEA or cortisol, and there is no evidence that Part 5 practices change this ratio.
Why does DHEA matter?
DHEA matters because it is one of the most abundant steroid hormones in the body and serves as a building block for sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. It is made mainly by the adrenal glands.
Its levels follow a clear life-course pattern: they rise in late childhood, peak in early adulthood, and then decline steadily with age. This decline has drawn interest as a marker of aging, though evidence that supplementing DHEA slows aging or improves well-being in healthy people is limited and mixed.
How is DHEA measured?
DHEA is usually measured with a blood test for DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), its more stable circulating form. Because DHEA-S levels change little across the day, a single sample is often enough, unlike cortisol. Results are interpreted against ranges that depend on age and sex. Doctors order the test mainly to evaluate adrenal function, investigate excess hair growth or early puberty, or look for rare adrenal tumors. Saliva tests exist, but blood testing is the standard. Levels can be affected by some medications, including hormonal treatments and steroids.