How Does Low DHEA Connect to Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces less thyroid hormone than the body needs to maintain healthy functions. Since thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of the body, an underactive thyroid often leads to weight gain, according to Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms may also include depression, anxiety, dry or thin skin, brain fog, and fatigue. Muscle weakness and increased sensitivity to cold temperatures can also be signs of hypothyroidism.

Older, limited research has linked hypothyroidism with low levels of the steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), although these are far from conclusive. Though DHEA cannot treat hypothyroidism, some people try taking over-the-counter supplements containing DHEA to manage their symptoms. However, evidence for the effectiveness of these supplements is limited, and they do not have approval as a medicine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you consider taking DHEA as a supplement for hypothyroidism symptoms, consult your doctor first.

What Is DHEA?

Dehydroepiandrosterone is a steroid hormone that the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, are mainly responsible for producing. After secretion, it converts the hormone androstenedione, which the testes and ovaries use to make the male and female sex hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

DHEA levels naturally decrease with age and may be implicated in a range of age-related conditions, including skin thinning, osteoporosis, and sexual dysfunction. Some symptoms of low DHEA levels, such as low mood, cross over with those of hypothyroidism.

DHEA and Hypothyroidism

No strong evidence directly links thyroid hormone levels and DHEA, but they may have an indirect link through autoimmune diseases that affect the adrenal glands. Although the adrenal glands are mainly responsible for producing DHEA, the liver converts it to a different hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S).

Other autoimmune diseases, including those that can lead to excessively high or low thyroid hormone levels, can be associated with an autoimmune condition called Addison’s disease that affects how many hormones the adrenal glands can produce. This typically includes DHEA-S in some people.

People with Addison’s disease often also have hypothyroidism. They might have results for sex hormones like estrogen or testosterone that fall within a normal range but have low DHEA levels, according to Penn Medicine.

Some research has found that low levels of DHEA-S in people with hypothyroidism may highlight a risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, which can lead to joint pain that can commonly occur in those with hypothyroidism.

Can DHEA Supplements Help Manage Hypothyroidism?

Treatment for hypothyroidism involves the lifelong use of supplementary thyroid hormones. These can include levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levo-T), a lab-made form of the thyroid hormones that need a boost, desiccated thyroid hormone (Armour, NP Thyroid), or liothyronine (synthetic T3 sometimes used in combination with T4).

DHEA supplements are commercially available. However, while some research has linked hypothyroidism and low DHEA levels, the field of DHEA research is still relatively new, and studies into its effectiveness as a supplement are producing mixed results.

One study involving 32 older males with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune cause of hypothyroidism, found that supplementing oral DHEA improved the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones and reduced signs of the immune system’s effect on the thyroid gland. However, the study was very small and didn’t examine whether this led to any meaningful clinical outcome for the males involved.

No strong evidence has shown that DHEA supplementation is effective for treating hypothyroidism’s effects. The FDA has approved DHEA as a vaginal suppository for managing genital pain due to menopause before, during, or after sex, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Association (USADA). DHEA doesn’t have FDA approval for use in adrenal insufficiency, but healthcare professionals occasionally suggest it.

Also, bear in mind that if you partake in professional competitive sports, DHEA is the most common banned performance-enhancing agent in dietary supplements. Trying DHEA may result in sanctions from the USADA.