Comparison
DHEA vs Vitamin D3 + K2
Side-by-side of DHEA and Vitamin D3 + K2. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
Vitamin D3 + K2
Vitamin D3 K2 supplement profile: cholecalciferol at 1000-4000 IU/day corrects deficiency, MK-7 directs calcium to bone, away from arteries.
Effects at a glance
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
Vitamin D3 + K2
- •Reduces non-vertebral fractures 10-20% in older adults at 800 IU/day or above when combined with calcium
- •VITAL trial showed neutral results on primary CV and cancer endpoints at 2000 IU/day over 5 years
- •Vitamin D supplementation reduces respiratory infection incidence ~10-20% in deficient populations
- •K2 MK-7 has 72-hour plasma half-life vs 1-2 hours for MK-4; once-daily dosing is sufficient
- •Synergy hypothesis is largely preclinical; dedicated combination RCTs are limited
- •Daily dosing outperforms bolus dosing for immune and infection outcomes
Side-by-side
| Attribute | DHEA | Vitamin D3 + K2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | supplement |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | cholecalciferol + menaquinone, D3/K2, vitamin D3 with MK-7 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 360 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 0.05 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | daily with a fat-containing meal |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 384.64 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C27H44O (D3); C46H64O2 (MK-7) |
| Mechanism | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. | D3 converts to calcidiol then calcitriol, activating the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to increase intestinal calcium absorption and modulate immune and bone gene transcription. K2 carboxylates osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, directing calcium toward bone and inhibiting vascular calcification. |
| Legal status | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Dietary supplement (global) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy | Recommended at standard doses for fetal bone development; consult clinician at higher doses |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 67-97-0 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 5280795 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q139347 |
Safety profile
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(minor)
Vitamin D3 + K2
Common side effects
- GI upset at high doses
- headache (rare)
- hypercalcemia (only at sustained very high D3 doses)
Contraindications
- hypercalcemia
- sarcoidosis
- active hyperparathyroidism
- warfarin therapy (K2 component requires stable intake)
Interactions
- warfarin: K2 component can affect anticoagulation; maintain stable intake and inform anticoagulation clinic(moderate)
- thiazide diuretics: additive calcium retention; hypercalcemia risk with high-dose D3(moderate)
- digoxin and calcium channel blockers: additive effects from D3-induced hypercalcemia(moderate)
- glucocorticoids: reduced vitamin D efficacy and bone effects(moderate)
- cholestyramine and orlistat: bind fat-soluble vitamins; separate dosing by 2 to 4 hours(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Vitamin D3 + K2 comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. DHEA is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is bone density, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
- → If your priority is cardiovascular health, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
Edge case: DHEA is contraindicated in pregnancy; Vitamin D3 + K2 is the safer pick if that applies.
Default choice: Vitamin D3 + K2. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for DHEA only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between DHEA and Vitamin D3 + K2?
DHEA and Vitamin D3 + K2 differ in category (hormone vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, DHEA or Vitamin D3 + K2?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; Vitamin D3 + K2 half-life is 360 hours.
Can you stack DHEA with Vitamin D3 + K2?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper