title: Dehydroepiandrosterone for the treatment of hot flashes: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Published data regarding the negative risk-benefit ratio of traditional estrogen/progesterone hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms have indicated the need for alternative treatments. Dietary supplements and herbal products are popularly used for menopausal control without a large evidence base. Therefore, a prospective pilot trial using 50 mg of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) once daily for 4 weeks following a baseline week was developed to explore whether DHEA has any efficacy in reducing hot flashes. Safety issues were also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight women were enrolled in this study, 22 of whom are evaluable. The primary outcome was the reduction in hot flash score (frequency multiplied by average severity) from baseline as measured by validated self-report daily hot flash diaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean hot flash score decreased 50% from baseline, and there were no side effects that were significantly worse compared with baseline. Quality of life related to hot flashes showed statistically significant improvement after 4 weeks of DHEA therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study provides data supporting the hypothesis that DHEA is well tolerated and can reduce hot flashes. Dehydroepiandrosterone should be studied further in a larger, placebo-controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kottschade
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rummans
authors.forename: Tait
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shanafelt
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sloan