title: Metabolic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether long-term treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women can modify insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy postmenopausal women with serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations <2.5 micromol/l were enrolled and randomly assigned to two different treatment groups: group 1 were treated with micronized DHEA, 25 mg/day at 0800 h for 12 months; group 2 were treated with an identical placebo tablet. At the beginning and at the end of the study, plasma lipid profile, glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test) and insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp: M index) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, the group treated with DHEA showed a considerable improvement of insulin sensitivity (M index +29.55%, P=0.01) and lipid pattern (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol +11.61%, P=0.03; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol -11.07%, P=0.04; triglycerides -19.60%, P=0.03), but glucose tolerance did not change. No modifications were observed in the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with DHEA ameliorates some metabolic parameters that are linked to increased cardiovascular risk and, consequently, this seems to be an interesting therapeutic tool in the management of the postmenopausal syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. alasco@unime.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lasco
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frisina
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaudio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trifiletti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nicita-Mauro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cucinotta
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000188:drug therapy; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate