DHEA 25mg - Performance, Mood & Energy Support
Adrenal Hormone Precursor · SKU C854IOH · 60 Capsules
DHEA 25 mg
One active ingredient. One physiologic dose. Nothing hiding behind a blend.
DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in the human body, and adrenal output of it declines steadily from roughly the third decade onward. This is a single-ingredient, 25 mg capsule built for people who want to support that pathway deliberately, with a dose that respects physiology instead of chasing a bigger number on the label.
25 mgPer Capsule
1Capsule Daily
60Servings Per Bottle
0Proprietary Blends
Read This Before You Add It To Your Cart
Do not order this without your labs.
I am going to talk you out of this purchase if it is the wrong one, so let me be direct. I do not recommend anyone order DHEA without knowing their baseline numbers and without the supervision of a physician. This is a hormone precursor. It is not something you experiment with to see whether it works.
It is also not the first thing to reach for. In my practice, DHEA is a downstream decision, and it comes after the work that moves the needle for most people anyway. Diet. Training. Sleep. Strength. Then a foundational supplement protocol run consistently for a real stretch of time, not two weeks.
If you have done that work, and a blood test shows your DHEA is genuinely low, then this can be added alongside that protocol. Only then, and ideally with the physician who ordered the test. If you have not done that work, a capsule is not going to substitute for it, and I would rather tell you that here than take the order.
FIRST
The foundation
Diet, training, sleep and strength work, done consistently. This is where the majority of what people are chasing with DHEA actually comes from. There is no capsule that outruns it.
THEN
The natural protocol
A foundational stack run for a meaningful period. In men that generally means Amplify T, 5X Chelated Minerals and DIM+, alongside the fitness and strength work above.
THEN
Test
A serum DHEA-S drawn by your physician, read against the reference range for your age and sex. Without that number you are guessing, and with a hormone precursor guessing is not a neutral act.
ONLY THEN
This bottle
If the test comes back genuinely low, DHEA can be added in conjunction with that protocol, under physician supervision, and retested. If the test comes back normal, keep your money.
Every supplement company on earth wants you to skip to step four. I am telling you that step four only works because of steps one through three.
Why We Formulated This One
The decline is real. The dose is the honest question.
Adrenal production of DHEA and its sulfated storage form, DHEA-S, peaks in the mid-twenties and falls progressively across adult life. That curve is one of the best-documented endocrine changes in human aging. It is not a disease, it is not something you catch, and it is not something a capsule reverses.
What a capsule can do is supply the precursor itself, so the body has more of the raw material it is making less of. That is the entire premise of this product, and we are not going to dress it up as more than that.
Where the category goes wrong is dose. Shelf DHEA routinely shows up at 50, 75, even 100 mg, because a bigger number sells. DHEA converts downstream into androgens and estrogens, which means overshooting is not a neutral act. We built this at 25 mg because that is the range clinicians actually use when they are dosing against a lab value rather than a marketing target.
Straight talk
DHEA is a hormone precursor, not a vitamin. It behaves like a hormone in the body, and it belongs in a conversation with your physician rather than in a cart on impulse. This page is written to give you enough information to have that conversation intelligently.
Relative adrenal DHEA-S output across adult life
Directional illustration of a well-described physiologic pattern. Bar widths are schematic, not measured values, and individual DHEA-S varies widely at every age. Your own number can only come from a blood test.
The Difference
Two ways to sell a hormone precursor
Industry Standard
Sell the fantasy
- Dose escalated to 50, 75 or 100 mg because a larger number reads as stronger
- Marketed as a youth pill, with promises about how you will look and feel
- Same dose recommended to men and women with no distinction drawn
- No mention of blood testing, so nobody ever finds out whether it was needed
- Silence on drug interactions and hormone-sensitive conditions
- Silence on the fact that this ingredient is banned in tested sport
The IOH Standard
Sell the information
- 25 mg, the range used clinically when the goal is physiologic support rather than a spike
- One active ingredient, disclosed in full, with no blend to hide behind
- We tell women plainly that the dose question is different for them
- We tell you to test DHEA-S before and after, because that is how you know
- A dedicated medication and safety section on this page, not buried in fine print
- A clear warning to drug-tested athletes, on the page, before you buy
What This Supports
Four things this formula is for
Structure and function support only. Nothing here is a treatment claim, and nothing here comes with a promised timeline.
01
Precursor supply
Supplies DHEA directly, supporting the body's own steroidogenic pathway with the substrate adrenal output supplies less of over time.
02
Everyday energy and drive
Supports normal energy, motivation and daily stamina as part of a broader healthy-aging routine.
03
Mood and sense of well-being
Supports balanced mood and a normal sense of well-being. DHEA and its metabolites are neuroactive and are produced in the brain as well as the adrenal cortex.
04
Healthy aging, men and women
Supports maintenance of DHEA status through the decades when adrenal output is changing, in a dose intended for daily use rather than cycling.
The Signature Idea
The same 25 mg does not do the same thing in two different people
DHEA is a precursor, which means the capsule is the starting point, not the endpoint. What happens after you swallow it depends on your enzymes, your sex, your body composition and your baseline. That is the single most important thing to understand about this ingredient, and almost nobody selling it will tell you.
Oral Dose
DHEA 25 mg
▼
Lane 01 · Reservoir
DHEA-S
Most circulating DHEA is sulfated into DHEA-S, a longer-lived storage form that acts as a circulating pool the body can draw from. This is also the marker your physician measures on a blood panel.
Enzyme: SULT2A1 · Measured as: DHEA-S, serum
Lane 02 · Androgen route
Androstenedione → testosterone
A portion converts stepwise toward androgens. How much depends on enzyme activity, sex and tissue. This is the lane that matters most for men and the lane women need to watch, because it is where dose-related androgenic effects come from.
Enzymes: 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD
Lane 03 · Estrogen route
Estrone → estradiol
Aromatase converts androgens onward to estrogens, and aromatase activity is higher with greater adipose tissue. Two people on the identical capsule can land in meaningfully different places on this lane.
Enzyme: Aromatase (CYP19A1)
Which is exactly why we say: test, do not guess
Because the destination varies, the intelligent way to use DHEA is with a number in front of you. Ask your physician for a serum DHEA-S before you start, and again after roughly eight to twelve weeks of consistent daily use. That single pair of values tells you more than any label copy, ours included, ever could.
If your baseline DHEA-S is already mid-range or high for your age and sex, this product may simply not be the right tool for you, and we would rather you know that before you buy than after.
Inside The Formula
One active. Nowhere to hide.
A single-ingredient product is the easiest kind to audit and the hardest kind to fake. Here is everything in the capsule, active and inactive, and why each thing is there.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
25 mg
DHEA is a C19 steroid produced primarily by the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex, with smaller contributions from the gonads and the brain. It sits upstream of both the androgen and estrogen families, which is why it gets described as a prohormone or precursor rather than as an active hormone in its own right.
What it does
Supplies the precursor substrate the body uses in downstream steroid synthesis, and contributes to the circulating DHEA-S pool. DHEA and its metabolites are also neuroactive, with activity described at GABA-A and NMDA receptors, which is part of why the mood and well-being conversation attaches to this molecule rather than to a generic energy ingredient.
What it supports
Supports normal energy, mood, and sense of well-being. Supports the body's own steroidogenic pathway. Supports the maintenance of DHEA status through decades when adrenal output is naturally declining.
Why 25 mg and not more
Twenty-five milligrams daily is a commonly used clinical starting dose in adults and sits in the range studied in oral DHEA work with postmenopausal women. Larger over-the-counter doses of 50 to 100 mg push conversion harder in both directions on the map above, which is not automatically better and in some people is clearly worse. We would rather start you at a defensible dose and let your labs decide the next move than sell you a headline number.
The evidence, told straight
We are not going to hand you a percentage. Most published oral DHEA work has used 50 mg daily, and some has used 50 to 75 mg, which is two to three times what is in this capsule. Borrowing a result from a 50 mg trial and printing it next to a 25 mg product is the oldest trick in this category and we do not do it.
The honest summary of the literature is mixed. The largest and longest randomized trial in healthy older adults, running two years at 75 mg daily in men and 50 mg daily in women, did not find meaningful benefit for body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity or quality of life. Other work, particularly in women with adrenal insufficiency and in postmenopausal women, has reported improvements in well-being and sexual function parameters. Both of those things are true at the same time.
That is why this page makes no claim about your body composition, your libido or your skin, and why the strongest thing we will say is this: it reliably raises DHEA-S, and whether that translates into something you feel is an individual question best answered with a baseline lab, a defined trial period, and a follow-up lab.
Other ingredients, and why
4 items
Gelatin capsule (gelatin, water). A two-piece gelatin shell. Gelatin is animal-derived, so this product is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. We would rather state that in plain language than let someone find out from an ingredient line they had to squint at.
Rice powder. A bulking agent. Twenty-five milligrams of active does not fill a capsule on its own, so something inert has to occupy the remaining volume or you get inconsistent fill weight and inconsistent dosing. Rice powder is the neutral choice.
Magnesium stearate. A flow agent used at a fraction of a percent so the powder meters evenly through the encapsulation machine. It is the most maligned and least interesting ingredient in the supplement industry.
Silica. An anti-caking agent that keeps the blend free-flowing and prevents clumping in the capsule.
Straight talk
There is no botanical, no cofactor stack, no absorption technology in this bottle. It is DHEA and the minimum necessary to deliver it accurately. Anything else would be there to make the label look busier, not to make the product work better.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Capsule
Servings Per Container 60
| Amount Per Serving |
% Daily Value |
|
|---|---|---|
| DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) | 25 mg | * |
| * Daily Value not established. | ||
Other Ingredients: Capsules (gelatin, water), rice powder, magnesium stearate and silica.
Panel rebuilt as text for accessibility and screen readers. The printed label is also shown in the product images above. Always defer to the physical label on the bottle you received.
The Short Version
Everything in four columns
What it is
A single-ingredient capsule delivering 25 mg of DHEA, the adrenal steroid precursor that sits upstream of the androgen and estrogen pathways.
Sixty capsules per bottle. Sixty servings. No blend, no filler story, no second active.
What it does
Supplies DHEA directly, supporting the body's own steroidogenic pathway and contributing to the circulating DHEA-S pool your physician can measure.
Supports normal energy, mood and sense of well-being as part of a healthy-aging routine.
Who it's for
- Adults over 18 who have had a DHEA-S drawn and come back genuinely low
- People already doing the foundational work: training, diet, sleep, and a natural protocol run consistently
- Anyone adding this under the supervision of the physician who ordered the test
- Not a starting point, and not something to try blind to see whether you feel it
- Not for drug-tested athletes. See the safety section below.
How to take it
Take 1 capsule daily with food, or as directed by your healthcare provider. Morning dosing mirrors the body's own diurnal pattern and is what I use with patients.
Not recommended for anyone under 18, or for anyone with a hormone-sensitive condition, without medical supervision.
Read this before you buy · Drug-tested athletes
DHEA is a prohibited substance in drug-tested sport. It appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list as an anabolic agent, banned in and out of competition, and it is likewise prohibited under NCAA and most professional and natural-federation rules. Taking it will not be excused by the fact that it was purchased over the counter.
If you compete in any tested organization, in any sport, at any level, do not take this product. Verify your own governing body's current list before using any supplement, this one included. That warning is here on purpose, above the fold of the safety section, because I would rather lose the sale than cost an athlete a season.
DHEA is also regulated differently outside the United States. It is a prescription-only or controlled substance in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and much of the European Union. Do not attempt to import it into a country where it is restricted.
Honest Expectations
The first 90 days, without the promises
We are not going to tell you when you will feel something, because we do not know, and anyone who claims to is selling. What we can tell you is what to do and what to measure.
Before day one
Get the baseline
Ask your physician for a serum DHEA-S, and depending on your situation a total and free testosterone, estradiol, and for men a PSA if that is age-appropriate. Starting a hormone precursor without a starting number means you will never be able to interpret what follows.
Weeks 1 through 8
Consistency, then observation
One capsule daily with food, same time each day. Keep a simple note on energy, sleep, mood and, for women especially, skin and hair. Consistency matters more than dose here, and changing two variables at once teaches you nothing.
Weeks 8 through 12
Retest, then decide
Repeat the DHEA-S. Compare it to where you started and to the reference range for your age and sex. That number, alongside how you actually feel, is the basis for continuing, adjusting frequency, or stopping. This is a decision made with data, not a subscription made on hope.
A specific word to women
Twenty-five milligrams is a reasonable daily starting dose for most adult men. For many women it is a full dose rather than a starting dose, because a smaller body of distribution and a different baseline mean the androgen lane on the conversion map can be reached faster. The effects women should watch for are acne, oilier skin, unwanted facial hair, scalp hair thinning and voice change.
If you are a woman starting DHEA, the conversation to have with your physician is not only whether, but how often. Every-other-day dosing from this same 25 mg capsule is a common and sensible approach, and it is the one I most often start with clinically. If any of the effects above appear, stop and speak with your physician.
What To Look For
How to read a DHEA label before you trust it
Use this on any bottle, not just ours. These are the six things that separate a serious DHEA product from a shelf-filler.
| What to check | Typical off-the-shelf DHEA | IOH DHEA 25 mg |
|---|---|---|
| Is it actually DHEA? | Often "wild yam extract," which the human body cannot convert into DHEA. Diosgenin becomes DHEA in a laboratory, not in your gut. | Pharmaceutical-grade DHEA, named on the panel, 25 mg, with no wild yam substitution. |
| Dose discipline | 50, 75 or 100 mg, chosen because a bigger number moves units, not because a physician recommended it. | 25 mg, the range used clinically when the goal is physiologic support rather than a spike. |
| Blends and hidden actives | DHEA buried inside a "hormone support matrix" with an undisclosed split across five ingredients. | One active. Full disclosure. Nothing else in the bottle but capsule, bulking agent and flow agents. |
| Guidance on testing | None. You are expected to buy indefinitely without ever finding out whether it was warranted. | The page tells you to draw a DHEA-S before and after, and tells you what to do with the result. |
| Sex-specific dosing guidance | One instruction for everyone, with no acknowledgement that conversion differs by sex. | A written, specific section on why the dose question is different for women and how to approach it. |
| Safety and interaction detail | A single generic sentence about consulting a doctor, and no warning at all to tested athletes. | Named drug classes, named conditions, and a prominent tested-athlete and international-legality warning. |
Proof, Not Promises
What we will actually stand behind
Everything on this list is either printed on the label, verifiable in the bottle, or a documented statement about how the product is made. Nothing on this list is a promise about how you will feel.
- 25 mg of DHEA per capsule, disclosed by name and amount on the Supplement Facts panel
- One active ingredient, zero proprietary blends, zero undisclosed amounts
- Every inactive ingredient named and explained on this page, not just listed
- 60 capsules, 1 capsule daily, a 60-day supply at the labeled serving
- Manufactured in the United States in an FDA-registered, GMP-compliant facility
- Formulated by a practicing clinician of 33 years who dispenses from these same protocols
- No performance claim, no body-composition claim, no timeline claim anywhere on this page
Manufacturing And Standardization
How this one is made
We describe manufacturing controls, and we describe them accurately. Where a specific document exists for a specific lot, we will say so and show it. Where it does not, we will not imply that it does.
FDA-Registered Facility
Manufactured in the United States in a facility registered with the FDA. Registration is a filing requirement, not an endorsement. The FDA registers facilities. It does not approve dietary supplements, and any brand telling you otherwise is misinforming you.
cGMP Compliant
Produced under current Good Manufacturing Practice controls for dietary supplements, covering identity, documented batch records, sanitation and process control.
In-Process Testing
Testing is performed at stages of production as part of the manufacturer's quality program. That is a process statement about how the product is made, and it is not the same thing as a published certificate of analysis for the lot in your hand.
Single-Ingredient Simplicity
One active means one identity to confirm and one amount to hit. Fewer inputs is fewer places for a formula to drift between the label and the capsule.
Dr. Andreas Boettcher, B.S., D.C., C.F.M.P.
Founder, It's Only Halftime
Ironman Triathlete
Master's Men's Physique Competitor
Medication-Free at 56
33 Years of Clinical Practice
From The Founder
In thirty-three years of practice I have watched patients buy DHEA off a shelf because a headline told them it would make them young again, take a dose nobody chose for them, and never once measure what it did. That is not a supplement problem. That is an information problem.
So we built this one to be boring in exactly the right ways. One ingredient. A defensible dose. And a page that tells you to go get a blood test before you spend another dollar with us. If your DHEA-S comes back where it should be for your age, I would rather you keep your money and put it toward something you actually need.
That is the standard I hold every formula in this line to, and it is the standard I hold myself to when I decide what I am willing to put my name on.
About this photograph
This image is here because it is who formulates and stands behind this line, not because it is a claim about this capsule. Nothing pictured is a result attributable to DHEA or to any IOH Nutrition product. It is decades of training, food, sleep and clinical discipline, and no supplement substitutes for any of that.
Build The Stack
What this pairs with
Read this the way I laid it out at the top of the page. These are not add-ons to DHEA. These come first, and DHEA joins them later if a test says it should.
Start Here · For Men
Amplify T
The natural-support layer I run with men before DHEA is ever on the table. It supports male androgen physiology through a different set of levers, and alongside DIM+ and consistent training it is where most men should be spending their first several months.
View Amplify T →
Start Here · The Cofactors
5X Chelated Minerals
Steroid synthesis is enzymatic, and those enzymes are mineral-dependent. Zinc and magnesium status underpin the pathway DHEA feeds into. Precursor without cofactors is half a plan.
View 5X Chelated Minerals →
Start Here · The Estrogen Side
DIM+
Look back at lane 03 on the conversion map. Aromatase carries androgens onward to estrogens, and that lane runs whether you are taking DHEA or not. DIM+ supports healthy estrogen metabolism, which is why it belongs in the natural protocol well before a precursor is ever added on top of it.
View DIM+ →
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Should I get a blood test before I start?
Yes, and I will say that plainly even though it slows down a purchase. Ask your physician for a serum DHEA-S. It is an inexpensive, widely available test and it is the only way to know whether your starting point is low, normal or already high for your age and sex.
Retest after roughly eight to twelve weeks of consistent use. Two numbers, before and after, turn this from a guess into a decision.
I compete in a tested sport. Can I take this?
No. DHEA is a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, listed among anabolic agents and banned both in and out of competition. It is likewise prohibited under NCAA rules and by most professional leagues and natural physique federations.
Over-the-counter availability is not a defense in a doping hearing. If you are subject to testing in any organization, at any level, do not take this product, and check your own federation's current prohibited list before taking any supplement.
What medications and conditions interact with DHEA?
This is the section to read carefully, and to bring to your physician or pharmacist rather than decide on alone. DHEA converts into androgens and estrogens, so anything that touches hormone signaling deserves scrutiny.
Speak with your physician before use if you take or have: aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole, letrozole or exemestane; selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen or raloxifene; prescribed estrogen, progestin or testosterone therapy, including oral contraceptives and hormone replacement; corticosteroids; insulin or other glucose-lowering medications; anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication; lithium; medications metabolized by CYP3A4, including triazolam; or antipsychotic medication.
Do not use without medical supervision if you have or have had a hormone-sensitive condition, including breast, ovarian, uterine or prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or polycystic ovary syndrome. Additional caution applies with liver disease, a history of mood disorders including bipolar disorder, elevated PSA, or a personal or family history of hormone-related cancer.
Not for use by anyone under 18, or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Is this the same as wild yam?
It is not, and this is one of the most persistent pieces of misinformation in the category. Wild yam contains diosgenin, which chemists can convert into DHEA in a laboratory through a multi-step process. The human body does not have the enzymatic machinery to perform that conversion.
A wild yam cream or capsule marketed as a natural DHEA alternative does not deliver DHEA. This product contains DHEA itself, named on the panel at 25 mg.
Is 25 mg the right dose for a woman?
Sometimes yes, often it is more than a starting dose. Women generally reach the androgen lane of the conversion pathway faster than men do, which is why the effects to watch for are acne, oilier skin, unwanted facial hair, scalp hair thinning and voice change.
Many clinicians, including me, start women lower or less frequently. Every-other-day dosing from this same 25 mg capsule is a common, practical approach and is easy to execute without splitting anything. Make that call with your physician and with a DHEA-S in hand, and stop and consult if any of the effects above appear.
When should I take it, and with food?
One capsule daily with food. Morning dosing loosely mirrors the body's own diurnal adrenal rhythm and is what I generally use. Taking it with a meal is simply about consistency and comfort.
Take it at the same time each day. The value of the eight-to-twelve-week retest depends entirely on the eight to twelve weeks having been consistent.
Do I need to cycle it or take breaks?
This is dosed for daily use rather than for cycling. The structure I prefer is a defined trial period anchored by labs at both ends rather than an arbitrary on-off calendar. Retest, look at the number, and decide with your physician whether to continue, change frequency, or stop.
Is this suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
No. The capsule shell is gelatin, which is animal-derived. There is no vegetarian capsule version of this SKU.
Will this raise my testosterone?
It supplies a precursor that the body can convert toward androgens, and how much of that happens varies considerably between individuals. I will not tell you it raises your testosterone by some figure, because the honest answer is that your labs will tell you and mine cannot.
If raising testosterone is the specific goal, that is a conversation for your physician, and it is a conversation that starts with measuring where you actually are.
Is DHEA legal where I live?
In the United States DHEA is sold legally as a dietary supplement. Many other countries treat it as a prescription or controlled substance, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and much of the European Union. Do not attempt to import it into a jurisdiction where it is restricted. Check your local regulations before ordering.
The Close
Know your number. Then decide.
Most people who take DHEA never find out whether they needed it. They buy a dose somebody else picked, take it until the bottle runs out, and call the result inconclusive. That is not the ingredient failing. That is a plan failing.
We made this one simple enough to run properly: a single active, at 25 mg, at a dose that respects the fact that this is a hormone precursor and not a vitamin. Get the DHEA-S. Take one capsule a day with food for eight to twelve weeks. Get the DHEA-S again. Then you will be one of the few people who actually knows what this did for them.
Sixty capsules. One ingredient. And a page that told you the truth about all of it before you spent a dollar.TrademarksThis formula contains no branded or trademarked raw material ingredients. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a non-proprietary compound.
ManufacturingManufactured in the United States in an FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant facility. Testing is performed at stages of production as part of the manufacturer's quality program. The FDA registers manufacturing facilities. It does not approve, endorse or evaluate dietary supplements.
Use And SafetyTake 1 capsule daily with food, or as directed by your healthcare provider. Not for use by individuals under the age of 18, or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. DHEA is a hormone precursor. Consult your physician before use, particularly if you have a hormone-sensitive condition, take prescription medication, or are undergoing hormone therapy. DHEA is prohibited in drug-tested sport and is a prescription or controlled substance in some countries outside the United States. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use if the safety seal is broken or missing.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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