Background and aim: It has become apparent that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) plays a protective role in atherosclerosis, but its influence on serum lipids has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of endogenous adrenal C19 steroid hormones [(DHEA) and androstenedione (ASD)] and serum lipoprotein levels.
Methods and results: The serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), ASD, total and free testosterone, estradiol, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI) and apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) were measured in a sample of 88 healthy men. Statistical analysis using Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between DHEA-S levels and ApoAI (p = 0.034), a negative correlation between ASD and triglycerides (p = 0.005), a positive correlation between ASD and LDL-C (p = 0.005), and a negative correlation between estradiol and HDL-C (p = 0.042). Multiple regression analysis revealed that DHEA-S is an independent factor for ApoAI, ASD an independent factor for triglycerides and LDL-C, and age an independent factor for ApoB100; estradiol was found to be a suggestive factor for HDL.
Conclusions: The results suggest that the plasma levels of DHEA-S and ASD (adrenal C19 steroid hormones) correlate with the plasma lipid profiles of healthy men. It remains to be seen whether this profile is favourable.