7-Keto DHEA
Summary
7-Keto DHEA is a breakdown product of the hormone DHEA. A review of 4 small trials found weight loss in 2, and a 7-day trial found it kept metabolic rate from falling during dieting (grade D). Up to 200 mg/day for 4 weeks caused no lab changes in healthy men. It is banned in sport at all times.
Key facts
- A metabolite of DHEA; supplements usually contain 3-acetyl-7-oxo-DHEA, which the body converts to 7-oxo-DHEA sulfate[4][6]
- Listed in WADA class S1 (anabolic agents), prohibited at all times; USADA names it among prohibited DHEA-related compounds[6][1]
- Isotope analysis after a single dose found no DHEA formed from 7-keto-DHEA[6]
- Weight trials tested branded products (HUM5007, 7-Keto Naturalean, Lean System 7); the 2023 review declares no conflicts[2][3]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 10, 2026
How it works
ProposedTrial authors propose that 7-keto-DHEA raises resting energy use without being converted back to DHEA; the 2023 review discusses several possible mechanisms but concludes that no clear answer is available.[3][2][6]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Grade D | Mixed | Systematic review · n = 131 · 2023 | 1 row |
| Metabolism | Grade D | Improved | Crossover RCT · n = 40 · 2007 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body weight and body fat in overweight adults | Mixed | Grade D | Systematic review · n = 131 · 2023 Overweight and obese adults aged 20–70 (4 trials) Form: 3-acetyl-7-keto-DHEA alone or in multi-ingredient products · Dose: 102–200 mg/day in two doses · Duration: 1–8 weeks Two of four trials found weight loss versus placebo (2.88 kg and 2.15 kg over 8 weeks); one reported lower body fat and one lower BMI. No serious adverse effects. The authors say no clear conclusion is possible. | 36566478 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Resting metabolic rate during a calorie-restricted diet | Improved | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 40 · 2007 Overweight adults on a reduced-calorie diet (30 women, 10 men) Form: 3-acetyl-7-oxo-DHEA alone, and in the HUM5007 combination · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 7 days per period Resting metabolic rate fell 3.9% on placebo but rose 1.4% with 7-keto alone and 3.4% with HUM5007 (each P=.001 vs placebo). Adverse events did not differ. | 17418559 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-acetyl-7-oxo-DHEA (3-acetyl-7-keto-DHEA) | Varies[2][3][4] | Not detected in blood after oral doses; rapidly converted to 7-oxo-DHEA sulfate, which peaked at 2.2 hours with a half-life of about 2.2 hours.[4] | No differences from placebo in lab values or minor adverse events at up to 200 mg/day for 4 weeks.[4] | Weight and metabolic-rate trials |
| 7-oxo-DHEA gel (applied to skin) | Varies[5] | No absorption figures in our sources.[5] | Lowered testosterone and estradiol and raised LH in 10 men over 5 days.[5] | One small hormone and lipid study in men |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 102 mg/day (51 mg twice daily) to 200 mg/day (100 mg twice daily) for 1–8 weeks. A safety study escalated from 50 to 200 mg/day, holding 200 mg/day for 4 weeks.[2][4]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Competitive athletes
- 7-keto-DHEA is listed in WADA class S1, and USADA lists it among prohibited DHEA-related compounds that should be a warning sign on supplement labels.[6][1]
- Hormone-sensitive conditions
- A gel form lowered testosterone and estradiol in men over 5 days, so effects on sex hormones cannot be ruled out.[5]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Safety
Short trials report no serious side effects, but data are limited.
- Escalating-dose study
- In 22 healthy men, 50–200 mg/day caused no changes in hormones, vital signs, blood chemistry or urinalysis versus placebo.[4]
- Weight trials
- No serious adverse effects were reported across the 4 trials in the 2023 review.[2]
- Hormone changes with gel
- A 25 mg/day gel for 5 days lowered testosterone and estradiol and raised LH, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) in 10 men.[5]
- Long-term data
- The longest trial lasted 8 weeks.[2]
How to read the label
- Label dose vs clinical doseTrials used 102–200 mg/day of the acetyl form, usually split into two doses.[2]
- Combination productsTwo of four weight trials tested blends with stimulants or other ingredients, so their results do not isolate 7-keto-DHEA.[2][3]
- Anti-doping riskAny supplement listing 7-keto-DHEA, or DHEA-related compounds, can cause a positive doping test.[1][6]
Cost per studied dose, without the sales pitch
Compare any product you already have by the amount it delivers, not by capsule count or front-of-pack weight.
Cost per studied dose
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Frequently asked questions
Does 7-keto DHEA help weight loss?
Two of four small trials found 2–3 kg more weight loss than placebo over 8 weeks, but two tested blends and the review authors call the evidence inconclusive.[2]
Does 7-keto DHEA boost metabolism?
In 40 dieting adults, it kept resting metabolic rate from falling over 7 days, rising 1.4% versus a 3.9% drop on placebo.[3]
Is 7-keto DHEA the same as DHEA?
No. It is a DHEA metabolite, and isotope testing found it is not converted back to DHEA.[6]
Sources
- [1]What Should Athletes Know about DHEA? (lists 7-keto-DHEA among prohibited DHEA-related compounds). U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), 2021. fact-sheet
- [2]A systematic review of the impact of 7-keto-DHEA on body weight.. Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2023. systematic-review
- [3]HUM5007, a novel combination of thermogenic compounds, and 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone: each increases the resting metabolic rate of overweight adults.. J Nutr Biochem, 2007. crossover-RCT
- [4]Safety and pharmacokinetic study with escalating doses of 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone in healthy male volunteers.. Clin Invest Med, 2000. RCT
- [5]Effects of transdermal application of 7-oxo-DHEA on the levels of steroid hormones, gonadotropins and lipids in healthy men.. Physiol Res, 2001. open-label
- [6]7-keto-DHEAmetabolism in humans. Pitfalls in interpreting the analytical results in the antidoping field.. Drug Test Anal, 2019. PK-study
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Adversarial review pass: every evidence row re-read against its PubMed abstract (and the 2023 review full text in PMC10348924 for doses, products and weight changes). Official sources opened before citing: USADA "What Should Athletes Know about DHEA?" (lists 7-keto-DHEA; prohibited at all times under WADA S1). No ODS or NCCIH fact sheet covers 7-keto-DHEA. Industry ties: the weight and metabolic-rate trials tested branded products (HUM5007, 7-Keto Naturalean, Lean System 7) and their funding is not stated in PubMed; the 2023 review was university-funded with no conflicts. Retraction, expression-of-concern, erratum and withdrawn checks on all 5 PMIDs: none flagged. Page set indexable. Independent browser review (4 parallel reviewers, every evidence row checked against its abstract and official sources on the Vercel preview) found: WADA S1 classification attributed to the anti-doping metabolism paper and USADA wording kept to its list of prohibited DHEA-related compounds.