adrenal glands secrete large amounts of the inactive precursor steroids dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate ester (DHEAS), which are converted into potent androgens and estrogens in peripheral tissue
secretion of DHEAS declines in humans with age
DHEAS is important in health maintenance; a myriad of studies in animals have suggested that DHEAS is a multifunctional hormone with immuno-enhancing, antidiabetic, antiobesity, anticancer, neurotrophic, memory-enhancing, and antiaging effects
serum DHEAS concentrations are higher in men than in women
maximal values of circulating DHEAS reach their peak between the ages of 20 and 30
after which serum DHEA and DHEAS levels decrease markedly
by the age of 70, serum DHEAS levels fall to approximately 20% of their peak values and decrease by 95% in people aged 85 to 90.
a 27-year study in a community-based cohort indicated that DHEAS level may be a predictor of longevity in men, independent of age, blood pressure, and plasma glucose
in men after adjustments for age, systolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose showed significantly (log-rank stat =10.6; P<.001) greater longevity in the highest group (200 microg/dL) than in the moderate (130-199 microg/dL) or lowest groups (129 microg/dL)
Reference:
1.Yen SSC. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and longevity: New clues for an old friend. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001;98:8167–8169.
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