DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE (DHEA) AND AGING

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is the most abundant circulatin g steroid hormone in humans and can readily be converted to its parent steroid DHEA by tissue sulfatases. Yet, a biologic function for these steroids has not been defined. The link between DHEA and aging has be en raised by: (1) its well documented age-related decline, and (2) a p reventive effect of DHEA on numerous age-related illnesses: ischemic h eart-disease, cognitive impairment, immunodeficiency, malignancies, os teoporosis. These effects have been suggested by epidemiological studi es in humans. Animal studies support a protective effect of DHEA on th ese age-related diseases. However, it remains unknown whether these re sults in animals can be transposed in humans, because adrenal secretio n of DHEA seems to be particular to primates. In humans, only a few st udies have been performed. The effects of oral supplementation with DH EA have, so far, focused on the possible metabolic effects of DHEA. A few studies have shown: the absence of any side-effects; no change in body-weight; conflicting results on body-composition and lipids and no effect on insulin-tolerance. The latest study showed a beneficial eff ect on well-being but these results need to be confirmed. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd.