Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an endogenous steroid hormone that is secreted primarily by the adrenal gland and is the most abundant sex steroid. Metabolites of DHEA include androstenedione , which subsequently may be metabolized to testosterone or estrone which is an estradiol precursor. In addition to serving as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of sex steroids, DHEA directly modulates a number of cellular and nuclear receptors.
