Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) distribution in Spanish prepuberal children: relationship with fasting plasma insulin concentrations and insulin resistance.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to analyze dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in a population-based sample of Spanish prepuberal children and to investigate the relationship between DHEA-S and insulin.


METHODS
854 (440 boys and 414 girls) randomly selected prepuberal children were included in our study after a sampling. Children were 6 to 8 years old and were classified for the analysis in half-year intervals. DHEA-S and insulin levels were measured.


RESULTS
DHEA-S levels increase significantly with age during prepuberty reaching the maximum level of DHEA-S for this period at 7.5 years old in girls and 8 years old in boys. Girls have significantly higher log DHEA-S levels than boys, except at the age of 8, where the levels are similar (median: 41.7 nmol/l girls and 41.1 nmol/l boys). DHEA-S correlates positively and significantly with weight, height, and BMI in all age intervals but the correlation between DHEA-S and insulin and HOMA is present only at the age of 6.5 in boys and 8 in girls.


CONCLUSIONS
We report data about the distribution of DHEA-S in the Spanish prepuberal population. The maximum level of DHEA-S in this prepuberal period was reached before in girls than in boys, with girls having higher DHEA-S levels than boys until the end of this period. We found an important association between DHEA-S levels and weight, height and BMI but an inconsistent association of DHEA-S with insulin and HOMA.
Cano
Beatriz
B
Lipid Unit, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
de Oya
Manuel
M
Benavente
Mercedes
M
Viturro
Enrique
E
de Oya
Iria
I
López-Simón
Laura
L
Fernandez
Ovidio
O
Garcés
Carmen
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain
D007328:Insulin; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate