THE EFFECT OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE COMBINED WITH A LOW-FAT DIET IN SPONTANEOUSLY OBESE DOGS - A CLINICAL-TRIAL

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been shown to have antiobesity activ ity in rodents and spontaneously obese dogs. This study evaluated the effect of DHEA or placebo combined with a low-fat/high-fiber diet in s pontaneously obese dogs in a clinical trial. Spontaneously obese, euth yroid dogs, referred to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterina ry Medicine for treatment of their obesity, were evaluated for percent overweight, rate of weight loss, serum cholesterol, plasma lipoprotei n and serum biochemistry profiles, complete blood count, and endocrine profiles (T4, T3, cortisol, insulin, and DHEA-sulfate). DHEA-treated dogs had a significantly increased rate of actual and percent excess w eight loss compared with placebo-treated dogs. Serum cholesterol decre ased in both treatment groups; however, DHEA-treated dogs had a signif icantly greater reduction than placebo-treated dogs. DHEA-treated dogs had a significant 32% reduction in total plasma cholesterol, which wa s due to a 27% reduction in the lipoprotein fraction containing the hi gh-density lipoprotein (NDL) and a 50% reduction in the lipoprotein fr action containing the low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Placebo-treated d ogs did not have a significant reduction in total plasma cholesterol o r in the fraction containing LDL; however, they did have a significant 11% reduction in the fraction containing HDL. Significant decreases i n serum T4 and T3 observed in dogs receiving DHEA were not noted in do gs receiving placebo. DHEA in combination with caloric restriction res ults in a faster rate of weight loss than does Caloric restriction alo ne. In addition, DHEA has hypocholesterolemic activity, particularly a ffecting the lipoprotein fraction containing the LDL cholesterol.