Mayo Clinic study busts myth on anti-aging DHEA products

DHEA, a steroid hormone that has been billed for quite a while as a "fountain of youth" in many circles has yet another detractor. This time, the nemesis comes in the form of a new study from the Mayo Clinic, one of the most highly-respected medical establishments in the U.S. from many respects.

The Mayo study determined that DHEA pills and skin patches did not deliver a shred of anti-aging *anything* when administered to older men and women, who are often the recipients of DHEA therapies designed to slow down the aging process and delay the onset of anything related to aging.

DHEA is a steroid made inside the human body that is a precursor to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. The rapid decline in DHEA production after age 25 makes the natural steroid wanted worldwide by people above age 40 for its perceived marketed benefits as rejuvenating agents. Sales of DHEA in the U.S. last year hit the $50 level.