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Several studies have shown that DHEA and DHEAS levels decline with age and this has lead to speculation that there might be a connection between DHEA levels and longevity. DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland and is the precursor of androgens (male sex hormones) and estrogens.

Researchers at the University of Bordeaux released the results of a study which sought to clarify this point. The study involved 595 volunteers (253 men and 342 women) over the age of 65 years when first enrolled in 1988.

A year after enrollment the volunteers had blood samples drawn for analysis of DHEAS levels. This analysis was repeated for 290 subjects (119 men and 171 women) after an additional seven years.

In men, low DHEAS levels were associated with a 1.9 times higher risk of death. This association was particularly pronounced in men under 70 years of age (a 6.5 times greater mortality) and in male smokers (a 6.7 times greater mortality). The researchers concluded that DHEA supplementation may be beneficial for both current and former male smokers, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 98, No. 14, July 3, 2001, pp. 8145-50.

The researchers concluded that DHEA levels tend to decline by an average of 2.3 percent per year for men and 3.9 percent for women. However, they noted an increase in about 30 percent of the subjects. They found no correlation between DHEAS levels and functional, psychological or mental status or between DHEAS levels and mortality in women.