== Cardiovascular disease == 

 DHEA plays a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (Gordon 1988; Eich 1993), especially among men. Several mechanisms are involved: inhibition of G6PD (which can modify the lipid spectrum), suppression of platelet aggregation, and reduced cell proliferation (Porsova-Dutoit 2000). Men with lower DHEA-S are more likely to have atherosclerosis (Herrington 1990) and calcified deposits in the abdominal aorta (Hak 2002).