DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

Impact of Ketogenic Diet on Weight, Metabolic, and Endocrine Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Turetta C, Turetta C, Giannini A, Tarsitano MG, Gianfrilli D, Paoli A · Gynecologic and obstetric investigation · 2025

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread disease among women of childbearing age. This pathology embraces a complex spectrum of clinical manifestations. An altered secretion of gonadotropins and high levels of androgens determine menstrual irregularities and ovulatory dysfunction, infertility, hirsutism, alopecia and acne. Moreover, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance (IR) are common, leading to an increased metabolic risk. Whilst various pharmacological strategies have been studied to manage PCOS, the role of lifestyle should be emphasized. Numerous studies highlight the fundamental role that diet plays in the regulation of these hormonal imbalances. The hypothesis that a low-carbohydrate diet, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), may be beneficial in patients with PCOS has been evaluated in some clinical studies. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis has been to evaluate through anthropometric, metabolic, and hormonal parameters the impact of KD in overwe

The effectiveness of nutritional supplements in improving polycystic ovary syndrome in women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Zhao G, Fan Y, Li R, Huang Y, Li W, Zhao Y · Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E · 2025 · n=501

Nutritional supplements are known to ameliorate polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and have been shown to modulate endocrine and metabolic markers, oxidative stress markers and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with PCOS. A variety of nutritional supplements have been applied in clinics, but a more comprehensive ranking of their efficacy has not yet been investigated. To assess the comparative effectiveness of nutritional supplements in women with PCOS. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria up to October 12, 2023. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the effectiveness of various nutritional supplements on different indicators of PCOS by synthesizing both direct and indirect evidence from the trials. Seventy-nine RCTs involving 5,501 participants were enrolled in the NMA. It suggested that chromium was notably effective in improving fol

Efficacy of resveratrol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Ali Fadlalmola H, Elhusein AM, Al-Sayaghi KM, Albadrani MS, Swamy DV, Mamanao DM · The Pan African medical journal · 2023 · n=218

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and hormonal condition affecting women of a reproductive age. It causes an abnormal menstrual cycle, anovulation, infertility, acne, hirsutism, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disorders. Because resveratrol decreases testosterone levels, it may be of value in treating PCOS. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of resveratrol in treating women with PCOS. We searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science. With 95% confidence intervals, the data was retrieved and analyzed as a mean difference (MD) or a standardized mean difference (SMD). Four RCTs with 218 women were included in the analysis. Resveratrol significantly reduced testosterone (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI [-0.71, -0.10], P = 0.009), luteinizing hormone (LH) (SMD = -0.32; 95% CI [-0.62, 0.01], P = 0.04), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (MD = -0.85; 95% CI [-1.25, -0.45], P < 0.0001) compared with the placebo.

Supplementation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pre- and postmenopausal women - position statement of expert panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society.

Rabijewski M, Papierska L, Binkowska M, Maksym R, Jankowska K, Skrzypulec-Plinta W · Ginekologia polska · 2020

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration decreases with age, therefore, DHEA has been considered a hormone that reduces the symptoms associated with aging, so the usefulness of DHEA in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and the options of hormone therapy have received a large amount of attention. The effectiveness of DHEA in the premenopausal women remains unclear, while in postmenopausal women with coexisting estrogens deficiency is controversial. Despite many years of study, the use of DHEA is still controversial, especially regarding its effectiveness. The aim of present article was to evaluate DHEA specific effects on metabolic parameters, bone mineral density, insulin resistance as well as the therapeutic potential of DHEA in pre- and postmenopausal women using measures of sexual activity, cognition and well-being. The summary of this article is the position statement of expert group of the Polish Menopause and Andropause Society regarding the efficacy and safety of DHEA s

Effects of carbohydrate reduced diet associated with strength training on clinical signs of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Randomized clinical trial.

Colonetti L, Uggioni MLR, Prestes GDS, Stangherlin L, Junior JCD, Moura R · Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) · 2025 · n=29

To evaluate the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet associated with strength training on the clinical signs of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A randomized clinical trial was carried out including 29 women over 18 years old diagnosed with PCOS, randomized into two groups, with follow-up for 12 weeks: the low-carbohydrate diet group associated with strength exercise (LCDE); and the standard diet group associated with strength exercise (SDE). We evaluated manifestations of acne, hirsutism by the Ferriman-Gallwey scale and alopecia by the Ludwig-Savin scale, and assessed laboratory tests for total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. The collected data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS software version 21. The study showed statistically significant differences in the hormonal levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (P = 0.045), luteinizing hormone (P = 0.017) and follicle-stimulating hormone (P = 0.014) when comparing the LCDE and SD

Vitamin C supplementation alleviates hypercortisolemia caused by chronic stress.

Beglaryan N, Hakobyan G, Nazaretyan E · Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2024

The aim of this study was to determine whether ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation can lower plasma levels of Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) in patients diagnosed with functional hypercortisolemia due to unspecified chronic stress. Study includes data from 69 female with elevations in the cortisol and DHEA-S levels. Duration of follow-up was 2 months. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I included patients 23 with elevated cortisol, Group II-patients 24 with elevated levels of both hormones, Group III- patients 22 with normal cortisol and increased DHEA-S. Each group was randomly divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup was prescribed 1000 mg daily oral dose of AA. The diet of the second subgroup were left unaltered. All patients have their hormones levels re-examined 2 months later. After 2 months of AA supplementation the mean levels of elevated plasma cortisol and DHEA-S decreased. In Group I the level of cortisol fell from 780&

The effects of intermittent fasting diet alone or in combination with probiotic supplementation in comparison with calorie-restricted diet on metabolic and hormonal profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Talebi S, Shab-Bidar S, Mohammadi H, Moini A, Djafarian K · Trials · 2023

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in females characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and other metabolic disorders. Both intermittent fasting and specific probiotics have been suggested to help improve patients with PCOS through changes in gut microbial composition, circadian clock, and metabolic regulation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of intermittent fasting alone or in combination with probiotic supplementation compared to the calorie-restricted (CR) diet on anthropometric measures, metabolic status, inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with PCOS. We will carry out a randomized clinical trial for 8 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to one of the three groups: (1) a 14:10 early time-restricted feeding (TRF) diet with probiotic supplementation (n = 30); (2) a 14:10 early TRF diet with placebo supplementation (n = 30); (3) a CR diet (ene

Beyond adrenal fatigue: reframing the adrenal stress index through neutrophil-mediated glucocorticoid resistance.

Cardillo G · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026

The Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) is widely used in functional medicine but dismissed by mainstream endocrinology. Traditionally interpreted as a measure of adrenal secretory capacity, it has been criticized for lacking clinical validity. Yet salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) may offer more than redundant hormone monitoring: they may capture the organism's ability to maintain resilience against chronic inflammation. We propose that the ASI should be reframed not as a test of adrenal "fatigue," but as a candidate biomarker of inflammatory adaptation. Cortisol, bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), is released at inflamed sites through neutrophil elastase stored in azurophilic granules. Since these granules are formed only at the promyelocyte stage, their depletion under chronic demand leads to neutrophil exhaustion and impaired cortisol delivery. DHEAS, conversely, buffers cortisol's catabolic and immunosuppressive actions and declines with age or pers

Functional iron blockade in chronic stress and neurodivergence: a perspective on adaptive stress physiology.

Hauck S · Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025

Burnout and trauma are often framed as psychosocial conditions or as dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Yet across more than two decades of clinical observation, I have repeatedly encountered a recurring metabolic signature that does not fit existing frameworks: persistent hyperferritinemia without hemochromatosis or overt inflammation, coexisting with low dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and preserved but gradually declining cortisol dynamics. This constellation is frequently observed in neurodivergent individuals and their families, with early signs already visible in childhood as mild anemia, elevated ferritin, low vitamin D, and behavioral hypervigilance. I propose that this pattern reflects a functional iron blockade (FIB), in which low-grade interleukin-6 signaling upregulates hepcidin, degrades ferroportin, and traps iron intracellularly. While protective against oxidative stress by reducing labile Fe²+, the adaptive cost is functional ir

Physiological biomarkers of chronic stress: A systematic review.

Noushad S, Ahmed S, Ansari B, Mustafa UH, Saleem Y, Hazrat H · International journal of health sciences · 2021

The basic objective of this systematic review was to identify potential biomarkers for chronic stress. A systematic review of studies linking biomarkers in people with chronic stress was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. The last 40 years' studies were included in the systematic review with no age restrictions; animal studies were excluded from the study. Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for the study purpose. The studies were searched using the combinations of search terms that comprised chronic stress together with the keywords hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), autonomic nervous system (ANS), immune system, metabolic biomarkers, cortisol, hair cortisol, salivary cortisol, urinary cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), metabolic biomarkers, antioxidants, glucose, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inf

Multi-center, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Daily Oral 100 mg Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Over 6 Treatment Cycles as a Concomitant Therapy to Oral Contraceptives (OC) to Alleviate Complaints of Reduced Libido in Women With Acquired Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) Associated With OC-use

n=100 · NCT00566384 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the study drug on the libido (sexual desire) of women who are taking oral contraceptives and who have experienced libido reductions as a side-effect of this contraceptive method The hypothesis is that there is superiority in the change in sexual desire and arousal component scores of the FSFI questionnaire from baseline to cycle 6 of the treatment with the study drug as compared to Placebo.

Phase II/III Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Women With Mild to Moderate Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

n=190 · NCT00004795 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of synthetic dehydroepiandrosterone (GL701) in women with prednisone-dependent systemic lupus erythematosus. II. Describe the pharmacokinetics of GL701.

Phase II Study of Long-Term Dehydroepiandrosterone for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

n=20 · NCT00004665 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the long-term safety and tolerance of a synthetic formulation of dehydroepiandrosterone, GL701, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who have completed a prior GL701 protocol.