Relationships between dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate and anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal variables in a large cohort of obese women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to measure dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) levels in obesity and assess the relationships between DHEA-S and anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal variables.


METHODS
We evaluated the serum DHEA-S levels in 217 obese but otherwise normal female subjects (age (mean +/- SEM): 39.4 +/- 0.9, range 18-67 years, body mass index (BMI) = 36.1 +/- 0.4, range 27.1-57.1 kg/m2).


RESULTS
DHEA-S levels showed an age-dependent fall similar to that observed in normal women (n = 156, age 46.2 +/- 1.2, range 22-69 years, BMI < 25 kg/m2). Adjusting for age, obese women had mean DHEA-S levels higher than the control group (P < 0.02). In obese patients, DHEA-S levels were directly associated with serum testosterone, androstendione, IGF-I, fT3 levels and 24 h-urinary cortisol. On the other hand, DHEA-S levels were negatively associated with age, total cholesterol, triglycerides levels and systolic blood pressure. No correlation was found with BMI, waist:hip ratio, basal and post-OGTT insulin and glucose, free fatty acids, GH, PRL, fT4, TSH, SHBG levels or diastolic blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis indicated that in obese women, DHEA-S levels were associated negatively to age and positively to testosterone, androstendione and IGF-I levels and daily urinary cortisol. In a subgroup of 20 obese women, DHEA-S levels significantly (P < 0.001) fell after OGTT without any correlation with the insulin response.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results show that dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels are not reduced in obesity, being slightly increased, particularly in young adulthood. Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels are positively and independently associated with androgen, 24-h urinary cortisol and IGF-I levels but do not seem associated with insulin levels or cardiovascular risk indices.
Maccario
M
M
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università di Torino, Italy.
Mazza
E
E
Ramunni
J
J
Oleandri
S E
SE
Savio
P
P
Grottoli
S
S
Rossetto
R
R
Procopio
M
M
Gauna
C
C
Ghigo
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D006854:Hydrocortisone