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Limited evidenceWeight management

7-Keto DHEA

7-Keto DHEA (3-acetyl-7-oxo-DHEA) is marketed as a non-hormonal DHEA metabolite that raises metabolic rate, but a systematic review of its weight effects found the evidence thin, industry-linked and unconvincing. It is also prohibited in sport.

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What the science says

  • A systematic review found the weight-loss evidence inadequate Limited evidence

    A systematic review of 7-keto-DHEA and body weight identified only a small number of eligible human trials, mostly with fewer than 40 participants, 8 weeks in duration, and heavily industry-associated. The reviewers concluded the available data do not support a reliable weight-loss effect, with reported differences of roughly 1-3 kg in individual trials that have never been independently replicated at adequate power.

  • The "raises resting metabolic rate" claim comes from a single small dataset Limited evidence

    The frequently cited finding that 200 mg/day increases resting metabolic rate by around 1.4% comes from a small trial in overweight adults; other work has failed to find a thermogenic effect, and a 1-2% change in resting metabolic rate is roughly 20-30 kcal/day even if real.

  • It is not hormonally inert Moderate evidence

    7-Oxo-DHEA is a genuine DHEA metabolite and is chemically related to arimistane (androsta-3,5-dien-7,17-dione), which forms as a degradation product and appears as a urinary metabolite. That relationship undercuts the marketing claim that 7-keto is simply a "non-hormonal" alternative to DHEA and explains why anti-doping laboratories treat it as a steroid-related substance.

  • Thyroid and immune claims are not established in humans Limited evidence

    Claims about raising T3, improving thyroid function or enhancing immune parameters rest on small pilot studies and animal data. Human trials have generally reported no clinically meaningful change in thyroid hormone concentrations at 100-200 mg/day.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials have used 100-200 mg/day, usually split as 100 mg twice daily, for 6-8 weeks alongside diet and exercise. Commercial capsules are typically 25-100 mg. No dose has been shown in independent research to produce clinically relevant fat loss, so there is no dose to recommend.
SafetyReported side effects in short trials are mild (nausea, dizziness), but the human safety database is small and long-term data are absent. Because it is a DHEA metabolite and closely related to arimistane, 7-keto DHEA is prohibited at all times under the WADA anabolic-agent category and will cause a positive test; athletes should avoid it entirely. DHEA-family products are prescription-only or restricted in Canada, the UK, Australia and parts of the EU. Not appropriate in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or in people with hormone-sensitive cancers. As with other weight-loss supplements, products may be spiked with undeclared stimulants, so third-party testing is essential.

How to take it

TimingSplit as two doses, morning and afternoon, as the trials did.
With food?With food.
Worth knowingIf you are drug-tested, this alone will fail you — it is prohibited at all times as an anabolic agent, and it is prescription-only or restricted in Canada, the UK and Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Does 7-Keto DHEA help with weight loss?

7-Keto DHEA has not been shown to cause reliable weight loss (limited evidence): a systematic review found only a few small, short, heavily industry-associated trials, with differences of roughly 1-3 kg never independently replicated. No dose has been shown in independent research to produce clinically relevant fat loss.

Does 7-Keto DHEA boost metabolism?

The claim that 7-Keto DHEA raises metabolic rate comes from a single small trial reporting a roughly 1.4% increase at 200 mg/day; other work found no thermogenic effect (limited evidence). Even if real, a 1-2% change in resting metabolic rate is only about 20-30 kcal/day.

Is 7-Keto DHEA banned in sport?

Yes: 7-Keto DHEA is prohibited at all times under the WADA anabolic-agent category and will cause a positive test, so drug-tested athletes should avoid it entirely. It is also not hormonally inert, being a DHEA metabolite chemically related to arimistane, and DHEA-family products are restricted in Canada, the UK and Australia.

What are the side effects of 7-Keto DHEA?

Side effects of 7-Keto DHEA reported in short trials are mild, such as nausea and dizziness, but the human safety database is small and long-term data are absent. It is not appropriate in pregnancy, breastfeeding or hormone-sensitive cancers, and weight-loss products may be spiked with undeclared stimulants.

Scientific references

Where to buy

KAL, 7-Keto DHEA, 50 mg, 30 Tablets

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