Distribution of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Relationships Between its Level and Serum Lipid Levels in a Rural Japanese Population

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a major secretory product of the adrenal glands. DHEAS is inversely associated with death from cardiovascular disease in males, but not in females. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between serum DHEAS levels and atherosclerosis in free living subjects in Japan. We measured the serum DHEAS levels of 990 apparentltly healthy subjects aged 35-81 years old in a rural area in Japan; 431 males and 559 females. The levels were determined by the radioimmunoassay method. The frequency distribution was skewed to a lower value in both sexes. Both unadjusted and age-adjusted mean DHEAS levels were statistically higher in males than in females, A marked linear decline of levels with age was observed in both sexes. DHEAS levels were positively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLG), and negatively correlated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) even after adjustment for age in both sexes. The mean atherogenic index (AI) was significantly inversely correlated with the rise of tertiles of the DHEAS level, both before and after adjustment for age, Total cholesterol (TC), HDLC and Triglyceride (TG). These results suggest high levels of serum DHEAS may have an inhibitory effect on the development of atherosclerosis and have an important role in its etiology and prevention. J Epidemiol, 1998 ; 8 : 285-291.