delta 5-Androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol in healthy eumenorrheic women: relationship to body mass and hormonal profile.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether delta 5-Androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol or androstenediol secretion increases with body mass.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
University-based clinical research center.


METHODS
Twenty healthy, nonhirsute, eumenorrheic women, 10 with a body mass index (BMI) < 31 kg/m2 and 10 with a BMI > 31 kg/m2 were studied.


METHODS
All patients had blood sampled before (0 minute) and 60 minute after acute administration of 1 mg ACTH-(1-24) i.v. Body circumferences were obtained, and the BMI and waist-hip ratio was calculated.


METHODS
Total T, androstenedione (A), E2, sex hormone binding globulin, DHEA, DHEAS, and androstenediol were measured at 0 minutes (steroid 0): and DHEA, A and androstenediol were also measured after stimulation (steroid 60). The net steroid increment (delta) from 0 to 60 minute was calculated.


RESULTS
Compared with thin women, obese subjects had higher levels of androstenediol 60 (95.8 +/- 20.3 versus 130.7 +/- 40.7 ng/dL, respectively [conversion factor to SI units, 0.03443]) and delta androstenediol (17.4 +/- 8.7 versus 37.8 +/- 29.0 ng/dL, respectively [conversion factor to SI units, 0.03443]). Neither the BMI, height, nor the body circumference measures correlated with any of the steroid levels or responses to adrenal stimulation, except for a weak positive correlation between BMI and estrone (E1) (r = 0.38) and a negative correlation between waist-hip ratio and delta androstenediol (r = -0.51). The basal level of T, E1, and DHEA0, but not A or DHEAS, correlated with androstenediol 0 (r = 0.65, 0.62, and 0.67, respectively) and delta androstenediol (r = 0.66, 0.63, and 0.63 to 0.005, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the unstimulated morning androstenediol level did not differ between obese and thin euandrogenic healthy women, the response of androstenediol to ACTH-(1-24) stimulation was greater in obese individuals. The present findings, together with our previous data demonstrating an increased adrenal secretion of the E1 precursor A in response to ACTH in obese women, suggests that the adrenal cortex in overweight women may further enhance the estrogenic milieu of these women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35233.
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Azziz
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Potter
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Bradley
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Boots
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values
D006728:Hormones; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003366:Cosyntropin; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol