@aleksfidurski: Young adults produce roughly 12–15 mg of DHEA per day. After age 30, production declines by about 2 mg per decade. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced primarily by the adrenal glands and serves as a precursor hormone; meaning it can convert into testosterone and estrogen depending on tissue needs. This age-related decline is well documented. Serum DHEA and DHEA-S levels peak in early adulthood and progressively decline with age; sometimes by as much as 80% by the eighth decade of life (Orentreich et al., 1984; Labrie et al., 1997). Why does this matter? DHEA isn’t just a “sex hormone.” It plays roles in: – supporting testosterone production – balancing cortisol (DHEA:cortisol ratio) – immune regulation – mitochondrial function – mood and resilience As DHEA declines, the ratio of cortisol to DHEA shifts toward a more stress-dominant state. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol are known to suppress testosterone production (Cumming et al., 1983; Whirledge and Cidlowski, 2017). In simple terms: Youth = higher DHEA relative to cortisol. Aging = lower DHEA, higher stress dominance. This doesn’t mean everyone should supplement blindly. Hormone balance depends on: – thyroid function – liver health – metabolic rate – stress load DHEA decline is not just “normal aging.” It reflects shifts in energy metabolism and stress physiology. Studies: Orentreich, N., Brind, J.L., Rizer, R.L. and Vogelman, J.H. (1984) ‘Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations’, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 59(3), pp. 551–555. Labrie, F., Bélanger, A., Cusan, L., Gomez, J.L. and Candas, B. (1997) ‘Marked decline in serum concentrations of adrenal C19 sex steroid precursors and conjugated androgen metabolites during aging’, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 82(8), pp. 2396–2402. Cumming, D.C., Quigley, M.E. and Yen, S.S.C. (1983) ‘Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men’, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 57(3), pp. 671–673. Whirledge, S. and Cidlowski, J.A. (2017) ‘Glucocorticoids and reproduction’, Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 28(7), pp. 515–530. If you want to understand how thyroid function, stress, metabolism, DHEA, and testosterone all connect, I break the full framework down in my free ebook. 👉 Link in bio to download it.

Aleks Fidurski

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Thursday 19 February 2026 20:35:28 GMT