Ray Peat on DHEA

January 3, 2026

Aging skin, progesterone and vitamin D

"It has been known for several decades that the production of progesterone and DHEA steadily declines with age, and in recent years it has been found that aged skin produces only about half as much vitamin D as young skin when exposed to sunlight. Old skin contains about half as much cholesterol as young skin, so it is not surprising that the substances formed from it are also reduced."

November 2018 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

The fundamental role of progesterone and DHEA

"Progesterone and DHEA are the precursors of the other, more specialized steroid hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone (the sodium-retaining hormone), estrogen and testosterone."

Generative Energy Restoring The Wholeness Of Life

Concerns regarding the administration of DHEA without hormonal balance

"Since DHEA can be easily metabolized to testosterone (for example in the skin) and to estrogen, I consider it inappropriate to ever administer it alone without a near-natural balance of pregnenolone and progesterone."

Generative Energy Restoring The Wholeness Of Life

Personal experience: Effect of progesterone and DHEA on melanomas

"I had some probable melanomas years ago, and I found that progesterone and DHEA, as well as increased thyroid activity, caused them to disappear quickly."

Email reply from Ray Peat

Toxicity of plant steroid derivatives and their regulation by DHEA and progesterone

"Digitalis and ouabain are plant steroid derivatives that are toxic to animal cells – especially heart muscle cells – by acting at a site normally regulated by substances such as DHEA and progesterone."

September 1995 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Positive effects of progesterone on heart function

“Albert Szent-Györgyi showed that the heart responds to progesterone, and more recent research has shown that DHEA is our endogenous digitalis.”

June 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Low DHEA levels associated with premature death

"Low levels of the hormone DHEA are associated with premature death from various causes, including cancer and heart disease."

December 1992 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Decline in protective hormones in the aging brain

"In young people, the brain contains a very high concentration of pregnenolone and its derivatives DHEA and progesterone, all of which stabilize the cells and protect them from the effects of cortisol. However, with age, these levels drop to about 5% of their normal concentration, leaving the brain exposed to the destructive effects of cortisol."

January 1991 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Decline in protective hormones in the aging brain

"The levels of progesterone, pregnenolone and DHEA in the brain are normally 20 to 30 times higher than the serum concentration, and these hormones have a protective effect against both estrogen and cortisone."

April 1991 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

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