"DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is often called the “master” hormone because it plays a key role in the production of other hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and some 15 others that are crucial for good health. As we age, our bodies produce less DHEA and researchers believe this reduces our ability to buffer against the stress-related hormones. It is this buffering action that helps prevent us from aging and its attendant symptoms: loss of muscle mass, fatigue, decreased sex drive, body fat gains, and the increased likelihood of serious illness. Oral administration of DHEA is well tolerated and quickly assimilated by the human body. "