What does the Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate test measure?

Why is Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate measured?

DHEA-S is the primary adrenal androgen precursor and a meaningful contributor to peripheral sex steroid production, particularly in postmenopausal women where adrenal androgen conversion is the dominant source of circulating oestrogen and testosterone. In female health panels, DHEA-S is assessed as a marker of adrenal androgen reserve, adrenal function, and biological ageing. Markedly elevated DHEA-S warrants investigation for adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal tumour. Suppressed DHEA-S alongside clinical fatigue, low mood, and reduced libido is a focus of adrenal support protocols in integrative practice.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

Female 18–29: 44–332 µg/dL; 30–39: 31–228 µg/dL; 40–49: 18–244 µg/dL; 50–59: 21–185 µg/dL; 60+: 10–158 µg/dL # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories age-stratified female reference ranges for DHEA-S.

Functional medicine optimal

Age-adjusted upper tertile of the reference range; many integrative practitioners target 150–250 µg/dL as a functional optimal for premenopausal females and 100–200 µg/dL postmenopausally. # REVIEWER FLAG: DHEA-S optimal ranges in integrative practice are highly variable and not standardised — reviewer to confirm framing.

Units

µg/dL, µmol/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.