“Hormonal balance” (marketing claim)
Umbrella marketing query «balance your hormones», «adrenal fatigue support», «hormone reset». No specific diagnosis sits behind it: real endocrine disorders require lab testing and treatment by an endocrinologist or gynaecologist. The Endocrine Society and SEEN do not recognise «adrenal fatigue» or «hormonal imbalance» as clinical entities. The query is typically used to sell DHEA, pregnenolone and adaptogens.
Also known as: Hormone balance, Endocrine support, Hormone reset, Adrenal fatigue
Marketing claims without evidence base
The drug is promoted for these uses outside international guidelines. Each entry below is analyzed against AEMPS, FDA, EMA, Cochrane and major RCTs.
- FDehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, prasterone)Not recommended · Endogenous C19 steroid precursor; an EU prescription drug for adrenal insufficiency and a vaginal form (Intrarosa); a freely available supplement in the United StatesDHEA marketing relies on «adrenal fatigue» and «hormonal reset» claims. The Endocrine Society 2014 and SEEN 2022 do not recognise «adrenal fatigue» as a diagnosis: the term is absent from ICD-10, ICD-11 and clinical guidelines. True adrenal insufficiency is rare and dangerous, confirmed by morning cortisol, ACTH stimulation testing and antibodies – not by «salivary cortisol» from a private lab. Taking DHEA with preserved adrenal function raises testosterone and estradiol via peripheral conversion – this is not «balancing», this is iatrogenic hormone manipulation with risks of acne, hirsutism and gynecomastia. Fatigue, libido or mood complaints require labs and an endocrinologist or general practitioner visit, not DHEA self-prescription.
- FPregnenoloneNot recommended · Endogenous C21 steroid precursor; sold as a supplement on iHerb and Amazon; not registered as a drug in the EUPregnenolone is sold as the «root of all hormones» with promises to «balance the whole endocrine profile». The Endocrine Society and SEEN do not endorse this mechanism: peripheral conversion to downstream steroids is unpredictable and depends on sex, age, tissue enzymes and existing pathology. Women face increased testosterone and estradiol with acne, hirsutism and menstrual disruption; men face gynecomastia and reduced libido. The concept of «hormonal balance» is not used in endocrinology: real disorders have specific names – hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinaemia, PCOS and so on – and receive targeted treatment. Hormonal complaints require labs and an endocrinologist visit, not pregnenolone from iHerb.
How to read tiers A–F
Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.
- AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
- BRecommended in selected cases
- CStudy data contradict each other
- DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
- FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit