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DHEA Sulfate Index

Meaning

The DHEA Sulfate Index is a clinical metric representing the circulating concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), a crucial adrenal androgen and a precursor to sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. DHEA-S is the most abundant steroid hormone in the human body, and its measurement serves as a reliable proxy for overall adrenal gland function and its secretory capacity. This index is particularly valuable because DHEA-S exhibits minimal diurnal variation and a long half-life, making it a stable marker for assessing anabolic reserve and stress-related hormonal status. Declining levels are often associated with aging and chronic HPA axis stress.