The Relationship between Serum DHEA-s Level and TAS in Healthy Adults

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex and has several roles such as increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering serum lipid, improving obesity, and anti-cancer effects. DHEA levels vary profoundly and levels decline as age increases. But the role of DHEA in the aging process is not yet fully understood. TAS which provides information of one's antioxidant capacity, also decreases with age. In this study, we investigated the relationship between TAS and serum DHEA-s concentration. METHODS: By reviewing the medical records of 197 healthy adults, we determined the serum levels of DHEA-s and TAS according to BMI, pulse pressure, WBC, hs-CRP, A/G ratio, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, ferritin, uric acid and total bilirubin. We studied the relationship between the parameters by Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean level for TAS and serum DHEA-s was 1.20 mml/L and 177.3 ug/mL, respectively. Serum DHEA-s correlated positively with TAS (r=0.44) and negatively for age (r=-0.44). WBC triglyceride and uric acid also showed statistically significant correlations. But, according to multiple regression analysis DHEA-s only correlated with TAS and age. CONCLUSION: Serum DHEA-s correlates positively with TAS.