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DHT

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative of testosterone that is known as being more potent at signaling through the androgen receptor, and due to this it is involved to a larger degree in hair loss and prostate cancer.

Our evidence-based analysis on dht features 26 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated:

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Human Effect Matrix

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The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies to tell you what supplements affect DHT.

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Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Supplement Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-c
Creatine
Minor - See study
An increase in DHT independent of an increase in testosterone has been noted, but the study requires replication due to some potential issues (its location, the lack of biological plausibility, etc.).
grade-c
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Minor Very High See 2 studies
May increase DHT levels alongside testosterone levels, but this has only been observed in postmenopausal women
grade-c
Fenugreek
Minor Moderate See 2 studies
A decrease in DHT has been noted following consumption of fenugreek seeds in otherwise healthy men, but appears to be unreliable

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grade-c
Zinc
 
grade-c
Saw Palmetto
 
grade-d
Tribulus terrestris
 
grade-d
Boron
 

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Frequently Asked Questions and Articles on DHT

Does creatine cause hair loss?
It’s plausible, but unlikely. One RCT linked creatine supplementation to an increase in DHT — an androgen involved in hair loss — but this RCT has never been replicated.
Read full answer to "Does creatine cause hair loss?"
Click here to see all 26 references.

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 26 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of research information and references for DHT.

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