Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on cardiovascular risk factors in older women with frailty characteristics.

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; 99 community-dwelling women aged 65+ with low DHEA-S and frailty characteristics (pre-frail or frail) and BMD < -1.0 at hip or spine; four groups (DHEA+Yoga, DHEA+Aerobics, Placebo+Yoga, Placebo+Aerobics); two 90-minute exercise sessions per week for 6 months.

Oral DHEA 50 mg/day for 6 months; Calcium 1000–1200 mg/day (via diet and supplementation); Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 1000 IU/day.

DHEA increased DHEA-S, estradiol, estrone and testosterone and decreased SHBG over 6 months; no significant changes in cardiovascular risk factors (lipids, fasting glucose, blood pressure) or abdominal fat; no difference between DHEA and placebo; exercise type did not modify results; DHEA appears safe in the short term but does not consistently affect cardiovascular risk factors in older frail women.

Small sample size with 87 completions; secondary analysis; not powered for lipid or BP changes; 6-month duration; findings limited to older women with frailty; generalizability limited; potential confounding from exercise type; dropout may affect results.