Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone

Eberling, Pascal; Koivisto, Veikko A.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92587-9

Cited by 340 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate can be converted both to more potent androgens and to oestrogens (Ibanez et al, 2000;Nicolas Diaz-Chico et al, 2007), but its physiological role is unclear and has been hypothesised to depend on the hormonal milieu (Ebeling and Koivisto, 1994). The physiological triggers of adrenarche and adrenal androgen production are unknown, although there are indications that ACTH, insulin, IGF-I and leptin may be implicated (Ibanez et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of size at birth with adolescent hormone levels, body size and age at menarche: relevance for breast cancer risk

et al. 2008

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Birth size has been positively associated with age at menarche and height in adolescence and adulthood, but the relevant biological mechanisms remain unclear. Among 262 Norwegian term-born singleton girls, birth size measures (weight, length, ponderal index, head circumference and subscapular skin-fold thickness) were analysed in relation to adolescent hormone levels (oestradiol, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, androstenedione and free testosterone index), age at menarche and adolescent (ages 12.7 -15.5 years) and body size (height, weight, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio) using survival analysis and general linear modelling. The results were adjusted for gestational age at birth, age and menarcheal status at measurement in adolescence and maternal age at menarche. Birth weight, birth length and head circumference were positively associated with adolescent weight and height, and small birth size was associated with earlier age at menarche. Subscapular skin-fold thickness at birth was not associated with adolescent body size, but low fold-thickness was associated with earlier age at menarche. Measures of birth size were inversely related to circulating levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in adolescence, but there was no clear association with other hormones. These results suggest that physical and sexual development in puberty and adolescence is influenced by prenatal factors, and in combination, these factors may influence health and disease later in life. (Trichopoulos, 1990) has stimulated studies of birth size in relation to risk factors for BC (Okasha et al, 2003). Birth size is an indicator of foetal growth and may reflect intrauterine exposure to oestrogen, the key factor that was originally proposed to explain a possible association between intrauterine factors and adult BC (Trichopoulos, 1990). Studies have shown that relatively large birth size is associated with later age at menarche (Adair, 2001;Sloboda et al, 2007) and taller body height, both in adolescence (Pietiläinen et al, 2001;Romundstad et al, 2003) and in adulthood (Loos et al, 2002). Adult tallness is associated with higher BC risk, and the positive association between birth size and body height suggests that longitudinal growth in childhood and adolescence may be important determinants for subsequent BC (Michels and Willett, 2004). Birth size has also been inversely related to adrenal androgen production during childhood (Ong et al, 2004) and adolescence (Ibanez et al, 1999). Adult levels of both adrenal and gonadal androgens have been associated with BC risk (Kaaks et al, 2005a, b). The fact that small birth size is associated with earlier age at menarche and higher circulating levels of adrenal androgens cannot be easily reconciled with known BC risk factors, as small birth size may be related to reduced risk, and both early age at menarche and androgens are expected to increase risk.We have examined the relation between birth size characteristics and potential BC risk factors (ESHRE Capri Workshop Group, 2004),...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of size at birth with adolescent hormone levels, body size and age at menarche: relevance for breast cancer risk

et al. 2008

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“…This most interesting hypothesis is consistent with the above-mentioned findings from Villareal et al (129) in subjects with low DHEA-S and, in our opinion, deserves further investigation. On the other hand, the same authors have suggested that, in men, estrogen-like effects of DHEA may explain the results of DHEA treatment studies (141). However, this last statement is not supported by current literature on sex hormones and cardiovascular disease risk factors.…”

Section: Exogenous Dheamentioning

confidence: 94%

Dehydroepiandrosterone, obesity and cardiovascular disease risk: a review of human studies

Tchernof

Labrie

2004

European Journal of Endocrinology

152

100

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The age-related decline in serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated ester (DHEA-S) has suggested that a relative deficiency of these steroids may be causally related to the development of chronic diseases generally associated with aging, including insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, reductions of the immune defense, depression and a general deterioration in the sensation of well-being. The numerous studies which have focused on the link between DHEA and cardiovascular disease have generally been inconsistent, generating much debate and controversy on this issue. The present article is an analysis of studies on the relationship between endogenous DHEA or DHEA-S, obesity and cardiovascular disease risk, as well as DHEA treatment studies. Elevated plasma levels of free DHEA are associated with reduced obesity in both men and women, and with smaller abdominal body fat accumulations in men. However, contradictory results have been reported regarding the relationships between the sulfate ester DHEA-S and adiposity. Age differences in the populations studied may have been a confounding factor in these associations. On the other hand, DHEA-S level is not a predictor of cardiovascular disease endpoints in women, and appears to be a relatively weak one in men. DHEA intervention studies suggest that the effects of DHEA on serum lipids are, at best, modest or non-significant. The uncertainty as to whether endogenous and exogenous DHEA should be considered cardioprotective is related to discrepancies in the literature on this topic. Several studies may have been plagued by methodological problems such as low power, unreliable analytical methods, confounding factors or other differences in the populations studied. As a consequence, the original reports demonstrating dramatic effects of either endogenous or exogenous DHEA on cardiovascular disease risk have never been replicated. We propose that the effects of DHEA on cardiovascular disease risk (either favorable or unfavorable) should be considered to be much more modest than previously believed.

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“…There are various theories proposed to explain the process of ageing (3) and the most popular ones are endocrine and free radical theories (4,5). The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) are the major secretory steroidal products of the adrenal gland (6,7). There are reports stating that there is a progressive decline in the endogenous production of DHEA with age in humans (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone and lipid peroxides in human volunteers of different age groups

Sreeramulu

Ramalakshmi

Balakrishna

et al. 2004

Indian J Clin Biochem

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The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and lipid peroxide levels dudng ageing in human subjects. Random blood samples were collected from a total of 128 apparently normal human volunteers of both sexes, whose age ranged between 21-70 years. The subjects were divided into groups of a decade years of age difference.Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), lipid peroxides as malondialdehyde (MDA), and insulin were analysed in all the subjects recruited in the study. In the present study there was decrease in serum DHEA levels with age (11.30 to 7.99 ng/mi). However the differences were significant only after 50 years up to 70 years. Serum MDA levels of these subjects were higher (3.91 to 4.74 ng/ml) as compared to the values reported earlier (2.64 to 3.94 ng/ml). The serum MDA levels also showed an increasing trend with age but the increase was significant only in the 40-50 years age group and values plateaud off at later ages. The MDA and DHEA levels in women in general were lower than in men and this could be due to female hormones, which are known to protect lipid against peroxidation. There was a significant negative correlation between age and DHEA (r = -0.311 P < 0.05) and positive correction between MDA and age (r = +0.405 P < 0.01). No significant differences were seen in serum insulin, albumin and total protein levels. These preliminary findings support the possible utility of DHEA and MDA as markers for chronological ageing.

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Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone

Cited by 340 publications

References 24 publications

Association of size at birth with adolescent hormone levels, body size and age at menarche: relevance for breast cancer risk

Association of size at birth with adolescent hormone levels, body size and age at menarche: relevance for breast cancer risk

Dehydroepiandrosterone, obesity and cardiovascular disease risk: a review of human studies

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone and lipid peroxides in human volunteers of different age groups

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