Does DHEA supplementation affect muscle mass?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) production declines dramatically with increasing age in people as they loose muscle mass. Animal studies have not shown that DHEA replacement affects body or muscle weight in animals, but does reduce lipids and reduces oxidation, increased with ageing. One research group has shown that growth hormones increase while others decrease during DHEA supplementation of older people. However, DHEA's effect on muscle mass in humans is unclear. DHEA supplementation does restore DHEA levels without apparent toxicity.