J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2002 Oct;17(5):675-684.

The Relationship between Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and Insulin Resistance Syndrome in Women

• Kim HJ
• Hong ES
• Oh JY
• Hong YS
• Sung YA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an androgen precursor, and is known to be decreased by the aging process. DHEA has been known to have a protective effect on insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in men, but remains controversial in women. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of DHEA on insulin resistance, and the risk for cardiovascular disease, in women.
METHODS
We analyzed the relationship between DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), known to have a longer half-life and less diurnal variation than DHEA, and insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) in 471 non-diabetic women from an urban community diabetes prevalence study. Serum DHEAS concentrations were measured using a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit.
RESULTS
1. The frequencies of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia were 25.3, 8.5, 21.9 and 6.2%, respectively, and the frequency of IRS was 16.5%. 2. DHEAS was significantly inversely correlated with age (r=-0.47, p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (r=-0.18, p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.10, p<0.05), fasting serum glucose (r=-0.10, p<0.05), postchallenge 2 hour glucose (r=-0.12, p<0.01) and triglycerides (r=-0.16, p<0.01). 3. As serum DHEAS concentrations, by quartiles, were decreased, the age-adjusted frequency of hypertension was significantly increased (p<0.05). 4. A Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that DHEAS was significantly associated with age (p<0.0001) and BMI (p<0.05). 5. A Logistic regression analysis showed that DHEAS was not associated with IRS after adjustment for age.
CONCLUSION
DHEAS is inversely associated with age. DHEAS has no harmful effect, and may even have a protective role, on insulin resistance syndrome. Prospective examinations of DHEAS and insulin resistance syndrome in women are needed to confirm the mechanism for the association between DHEAS and the development of cardiovascular disease.

MeSH Terms

Aging
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate*
Dehydroepiandrosterone*
Dyslipidemias
Fasting
Female
Glucose
Half-Life
Humans
Hypertension
Insulin Resistance*
Insulin*
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Obesity
Radioimmunoassay
Triglycerides
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Glucose
Insulin
Triglycerides