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. SUBJECTS AND 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.