DHEAS

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is the sulfated storage form of DHEA, the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid, produced almost exclusively by the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex and serving as a precursor for peripheral androgen and oestrogen synthesis. In salivary endocrinology, DHEAS reflects adrenal androgenic reserve and relative energy availability, declining with chronic overtraining, low energy availability, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression. Baulieu et al. (1998) characterised DHEAS biology as a neuroactive steroid relevant to exercise adaptation and recovery.