What does the Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S), Serum test measure?

Why is Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S), Serum measured?

DHEA-S is the primary clinical marker for adrenal androgen reserve, adrenal androgen excess, and adrenal ageing status across multiple clinical domains. As a first-line adrenal androgen assessment marker, it localises androgen excess to an adrenal source when elevated — specifically the zona reticularis — as distinct from gonadal androgen excess from ovarian theca cells (testosterone) or peripheral androgen excess from aromatase activity. In the PCOS diagnostic workup, elevated DHEA-S (typically above 300–350 µg/dL in women) indicates adrenal androgen contribution to the androgen excess phenotype, clinically significant because adrenal-predominant PCOS responds differently to treatment than purely ovarian PCOS. In aetiological investigation of adrenal androgen excess, markedly elevated DHEA-S (above 700–800 µg/dL in adults) warrants adrenal imaging to exclude adrenal androgen-secreting adenoma or carcinoma — adrenal carcinoma characteristically produces extremely elevated DHEA-S alongside other adrenal androgens. In the assessment of adrenal ageing and HPA axis functional status, DHEA-S provides an objective, analytically stable marker of adrenal androgen reserve decline — the basis for DHEA supplementation decisions in integrative medicine and anti-ageing contexts.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

Female 18–29: 44–332 µg/dL (1.19–8.98 µmol/L); Female 30–39: 31–228 µg/dL (0.84–6.17 µmol/L); Female 40–49: 18–244 µg/dL (0.49–6.60 µmol/L); Female 50–59: 21–185 µg/dL (0.57–5.01 µmol/L); Female ≥60: 10–158 µg/dL (0.27–4.28 µmol/L); Male 18–29: 70–492 µg/dL (1.89–13.31 µmol/L); Male 30–39: 45–345 µg/dL (1.22–9.34 µmol/L); Male 40–49: 27–307 µg/dL (0.73–8.31 µmol/L); Male 50–59: 41–244 µg/dL (1.11–6.60 µmol/L); Male ≥60: 30–213 µg/dL (0.81–5.77 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm LabCorp age-stratified and sex-stratified reference ranges for DHEA-S — values vary between platforms and age bands. The ranges above are approximate LabCorp values; verify exact numbers against LabCorp's current assay documentation. Confirm the assay methodology — most platforms use competitive immunoassay (ECLIA or CMIA); confirm whether LabCorp offers or defaults to LC-MS/MS for DHEA-S at low concentrations relevant to elderly patients.

Functional medicine optimal

Age-adjusted upper tertile of the sex-specific reference range — integrative practitioners commonly target levels equivalent to those of a 25–35 year old patient of the same sex as a personalised adrenal vitality reference point. Approximate adult functional targets: Females 30–50 years: 100–250 µg/dL; Males 30–50 years: 200–400 µg/dL. # REVIEWER FLAG: DHEA-S supplementation targets in integrative medicine are not standardised and vary widely between practitioners and protocols — reviewer to confirm appropriate framing and whether the age-relative optimal concept is clinically appropriate to document, distinguishing it clearly from diagnostic reference ranges.

Units

µg/dL, µmol/L

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