Dehydroepiandrosterone'/dehydroepiandrostenedione' (DHEA', more correctly didehydroepiandrosterone'), also known as androstenolone' as well as 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one or 5-androsten-3β-ol-17-one, is an important endogenous steroid raw powder hormone. In its pharmaceutical drug form it is called prasterone' (INN). It is the most abundant circulating steroid raw powder hormone in humans, in whom it is produced in the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the brain, where it functions predominantly as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the androgen and estrogen sex steroids raw powder. However, DHEA' also has a variety of potential biological effects in its own right, binding to an array of nuclear and cell surface receptors, and acting as a neurostero.

In middle-aged men, no statistically significant effect of DHEA' supplementation on lean body mass, strength, or test levels was found in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

A small study suggested DHEA' supplementation was associated with increases in free (but not total) test levels

In women with adrenal insufficiency and the healthy elderly there is insufficient evidence to support the use of DHEA'

DHEA' and other adrenal androgens such as androstenedione', although relatively weak androgens, are responsible for the androgenic effects of adrenarche, such as early pubic and axillary hair growth, adult-type body odor, increased oiliness of hair and skin, and mild acne. Women with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), who have a non-functional androgen receptor (AR) and are immune to the androgenic effects of DHEA' and other androgens, have absent or only sparse/scanty pubic and axillary hair and body hair in general, demonstrating the role of DHEA', test, and other androgens in body hair development at both adrenarche and pubarche.As a neurostero, DHEA' has important effects on neurological and psychological functioning.