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Higher DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) levels are associated with depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition: results from the PENN Ovarian Aging Study

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Abstract

The influence of sex hormones on mood during the menopausal transition has been the subject of ongoing investigation. Because dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) has been associated with several indicators of healthy aging, we conducted a population-based study of midlife women to determine the relationship between DHEA-S levels and depressive symptoms and major depression during the transition through menopause. Unexpectedly, the original report revealed a positive correlation between DHEA-S levels and depressive symptoms at baseline. The cohort was studied over 11 years to determine whether the positive association between DHEA-S levels and depression persists through the menopausal transition. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study with 11 assessments during an 11-year interval in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, using a randomly identified, population-based sample of 436 African American and Caucasian premenopausal women aged 35 to 47 years at enrollment. For outcome measures, we used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and standardized diagnosis of major depression. In a multivariable model, DHEA-S levels were positively associated with depressive symptoms when adjusted for age, menopausal stage, race, smoking status, and body mass index. There was no association between DHEA-S levels and a diagnosis of major depression. DHEA-S levels were positively associated with depressive symptoms through the menopausal transition. No association with major depression was apparent during the menopausal transition, but results may have limited power due to low prevalence of major depression in this cohort. These findings suggest that taking DHEA supplements may increase depressive symptoms for some women, and women and their physicians should be cautious about instituting DHEA replacement therapy during the menopausal transition.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the superb assistance of Shiv Kapoor PhD at the Clinical and Translational Research Center, the study coordinators, and women associated with the PENN Ovarian Aging Study.

Disclosures/conflicts of interest

Dr. Morrison—consulting fees: Orexo, Femme Pharma, BioAdvance, Impax.

Dr. Freeman—grant support: Forest Research, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth (now Pfizer); study drug: Pfizer; consulting fees: Pherin Pharmaceuticals, Forest (advisory board); travel reimbursement: Bayer.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Temple University School of Medicine, Jones Hall, Room 800, 1316 West Ontario Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA

    Mary Frances Morrison

  2. Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ellen W. Freeman & Hui Lin

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ellen W. Freeman

  4. Clinical and Translational Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ellen W. Freeman

  5. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mary D. Sammel

Authors
  1. Mary Frances Morrison
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  2. Ellen W. Freeman
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  3. Hui Lin
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  4. Mary D. Sammel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary Frances Morrison.

Additional information

Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, R01-AG-12745 (Dr. Freeman) and 2MO1RR-00040-37 (Clinical and Translational Research Center). The NIH had no further role in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data or decision to submit the paper for publication.

Study completed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

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Morrison, M.F., Freeman, E.W., Lin, H. et al. Higher DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) levels are associated with depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition: results from the PENN Ovarian Aging Study. Arch Womens Ment Health 14, 375–382 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-011-0231-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-011-0231-5

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