A 2013 meta-analysis found that men over 50 taking DHEA had mild decreases in fat mass, but not after controlling for testosterone and estradiol levels. In other words, DHEA worked to increase testosterone (which may have reduced fat mass), but did not have any effects on fat mass on its own. Also, DHEA had no impact on lipids, glycemic metabolism, sexual function, or quality of life in older men.[1] In terms of muscle strength and physical function, one systematic review reported no consistent effects in men over 60.[2]
A small clinical trial in older men without health conditions, but with blood levels of DHEA-S below the normal range for younger men (and within the normal range for older men), confirmed that DHEA supplementation can raise DHEA-S levels effectively. It found that supplementation with a single dose of 50 mg of DHEA led to blood levels of DHEA-S levels similar to the average for young adult men, and supplementation with a single dose of 100 mg led to a higher average level than that seen in most young men. Testosterone and DHT levels remained unchanged at both doses compared to baseline, whereas estrogens increased in a dose-dependent way at both doses.[3]