Elevated DHEA (specifically DHEA-S, the form measured in blood tests) is most often tied to how your adrenal glands respond to hormonal signals, insulin levels, or an underlying condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Lowering it typically requires addressing the root cause rather than targeting DHEA directly. The strategies that work best depend on why your levels are high in the first place.
Why Your DHEA Might Be High
DHEA and its sulfated form, DHEA-S, are produced primarily by the adrenal glands. When your brain’s stress-response system (the HPA axis) is activated, it sends a signal that triggers the release of both cortisol and DHEA. DHEA acts as a precursor to other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, which is why elevated levels often show up alongside other androgen-related symptoms like acne, excess hair growth, or irregular periods.
The most common causes of elevated DHEA-S include:
- PCOS: A subgroup of women with PCOS have excessive adrenal androgen production, often layered on top of ovarian androgen overproduction. This adrenal component is more common in non-classic PCOS phenotypes.
- Non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH): A genetic condition that affects how the adrenal glands produce hormones. This is typically ruled out through a blood test measuring 17-OH progesterone.
- Chronic stress: Ongoing HPA axis activation increases adrenal output broadly, though DHEA-S tends to reflect long-term patterns rather than day-to-day stress fluctuations.
- Insulin resistance: High insulin levels can alter adrenal enzyme activity, affecting androgen production. This connection is especially relevant in people with PCOS or obesity.
- DHEA supplements: Over-the-counter DHEA supplements will directly raise levels. If you’re taking one, stopping it is the most straightforward fix.
What Normal DHEA-S Looks Like by Age
DHEA-S peaks in your twenties and declines steadily after that, dropping by roughly 40% between your twenties and thirties alone. This natural decline continues throughout life, so a level that’s normal at 25 would be considered high at 50. Reference ranges from Mayo Clinic Laboratories illustrate this clearly.
For women, the typical range is 83 to 377 mcg/dL at ages 18 to 30, dropping to 45 to 295 mcg/dL in your thirties, 27 to 240 mcg/dL in your forties, and continuing downward from there. For men, the range starts higher (105 to 728 mcg/dL at ages 18 to 30) and follows a similar decline. When your doctor flags a high result, they’re comparing it to the range for your specific age and sex.
Dietary Changes That Help
Because insulin resistance can drive adrenal androgen production, eating in a way that keeps blood sugar stable is one of the most practical steps you can take. This means prioritizing foods that don’t cause sharp blood sugar spikes: vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Reducing refined carbohydrates and added sugars helps lower circulating insulin, which in turn takes pressure off the adrenal pathway that produces DHEA.
Research on low-glycemic diets in women with PCOS has shown improvements in several metabolic and hormonal markers, though the effect on DHEA-S specifically has been modest and inconsistent across studies. That doesn’t mean diet is irrelevant. Lowering insulin resistance improves the broader hormonal environment, which can reduce total androgen load even if DHEA-S alone doesn’t drop dramatically on a lab report. The benefits compound over time, especially when combined with other approaches.
Why Stress Reduction Alone May Not Be Enough
It’s tempting to think that since DHEA is released alongside cortisol during stress, managing stress should bring it down. The reality is more nuanced. A study on mindset interventions found that while cortisol levels dropped significantly with stress-reduction techniques, DHEA-S concentrations didn’t budge. DHEA-S appears to be a marker of long-term adrenal patterns and doesn’t respond as quickly to acute stress management as cortisol does.
That said, chronic stress management still matters for the bigger picture. Sustained HPA axis activation contributes to insulin resistance, poor sleep, and inflammation, all of which can worsen the hormonal imbalances that elevate DHEA. Stress reduction is better understood as one piece of a larger strategy rather than a standalone solution.
Supplements That Do (and Don’t) Work
Several natural supplements are promoted online for lowering androgens, but the evidence for their effect on DHEA-S specifically is thin.
Spearmint tea has gained attention for its anti-androgen properties. In a study of women with excess hair growth, drinking two cups of spearmint tea daily for five days significantly lowered free testosterone. But total testosterone and DHEA-S did not decrease significantly. Spearmint may help with symptoms driven by free testosterone, like mild hirsutism, without meaningfully changing DHEA-S.
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) tell a similar story. A meta-analysis of studies in women with PCOS found that omega-3 supplementation reduced total testosterone, inflammation markers, and oxidative stress, but had no measurable effect on DHEA-S levels. If you’re dealing with PCOS-related inflammation or elevated testosterone alongside high DHEA, omega-3s can still be useful. They just won’t target DHEA directly.
Medical Treatments That Lower DHEA
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, several medications can reduce DHEA-S levels, particularly in the context of PCOS.
Metformin
Metformin is best known as a blood sugar medication, but it’s widely used in PCOS because of its effects on insulin and androgens. By improving how your body responds to insulin, metformin reduces the hormonal cascade that drives excess androgen production. A stratified trial of 116 women found that metformin taken for six months reduced DHEA-S levels, with the response varying by PCOS phenotype. Most studies use doses in the range of 1,500 to 1,700 mg per day, though some go higher. Results typically take three to six months to appear, and the medication works best when combined with dietary changes.
Statins
Cholesterol-lowering medications called statins have an unexpected benefit: they directly inhibit the synthesis of adrenal and ovarian androgens. A meta-analysis of ten studies involving 735 patients found that statin treatment significantly reduced DHEA levels compared to controls. Not all statins are equally effective for this purpose. Atorvastatin produced a significant reduction, while simvastatin did not. Statins are not typically prescribed solely for high DHEA, but if you already need one for cholesterol management, the androgen-lowering effect is a meaningful bonus.
Combined Oral Contraceptives
Birth control pills are a first-line treatment for androgen-related symptoms in PCOS. When combined with metformin in studies lasting three to twelve months, the combination produced greater reductions in free testosterone and DHEA-S than either approach alone. The contraceptive component suppresses ovarian androgen production while metformin addresses the insulin-driven adrenal component.
Putting a Plan Together
The most effective approach depends on the cause. If your DHEA-S is mildly elevated and you have insulin resistance or PCOS, starting with blood sugar-stabilizing dietary changes and regular exercise can meaningfully shift your hormonal balance over several months. If levels are significantly elevated or you’re experiencing symptoms like persistent acne, hair growth, or hair thinning, medication like metformin or a combined oral contraceptive is likely to have a more direct impact.
Keep in mind that DHEA-S changes slowly. It reflects long-term adrenal activity, not day-to-day fluctuations. Rechecking levels after less than three months of any intervention is unlikely to show meaningful change. Most clinicians recommend retesting at the six-month mark to gauge whether a given strategy is working.