Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an endogenous steroid that is produced by the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex (Gurnell and Chatterjee, 2001). It was first isolated in 1934 from urine by Butenandt and Dannenbaum. In 1944, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), DHEA’s sulfated metabolite, was isolated from the urine. In 1954, DHEA was isolated from the blood, and in 1959 the chemist E.E. Baulieu discovered that DHEA-S was the most abundant form of the hormone found in human plasma. In 1965, De Neve and Vermeulen reported an association between DHEA-S levels and aging; it was found that as people age, DHEA-S levels decline in a linear fashion (Lieberman, 1995; Yen, 2001). This discovery led to numerous studies that focused on the link between DHEA and DHEA-S levels and the aging process.
Keywords
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
- DHEA Supplement
- DHEA Level
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anonymous. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Med Lett Drugs Ther 1996; 38: 91–2.
Ballantyne CS, Phillips SM, MacDonald JR, Tarnopolsky MA, MacDougall JD. The acuteeffects of androstenedione supplementation in healthy young males. Can J Appl Physiol 2000; 25: 68–78.
Baulieu E, Thomas G, Legrain S, et al. Dehdroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and aging: contribution of the DHEAge study to a sociomedical issue. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2000; 97: 4279–84.
Birchard K. Body-building supplement fails to strengthen muscle and may harm health. Lancet 1999; 353: 1943.
Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Sharp RL, et al. Effect of oral DHEA on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men. J Appl Physiol 1999; 87: 2274–83.
Buster JE, Casson PR, Straughn AB, et al. Postmenopausal steroid replacement with micronized dehydroepiandrosterone: preliminary oral bioavailability and dose proportionality studies. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992; 166: 1163–70.
Callies F, Arlt W, Siekmann L, et al. Influence of oral dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on urinary steroid metabolites in males and females. Steroids 2000; 65: 98–102.
Centurelli MA, Abate MA. The role of dehydroepiandrosterone in AIDS. Ann Pharmacother 1997; 31: 639–2.
Chabraoui L, Mathian B, Patricot MC, Revol A. Specific assay for unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone in human plasma by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. J Chromatogr 1991; 567: 299–307.
Chasalow FI, Blethen SL, Duckett D, Zeitlin S, Greenfield J. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as determined by commercial kits and reagents. Steroids 1989; 54: 373–83.
Corrigan AB. Dehydroepiandrosterone and sport. MJA 1999; 171: 206–8.
Dupee R. Can we prevent aging? Available from: http://www.msnbc.com/news/ 691799.asp?pre=msnandcp1=1. Accessed January 24, 2002.
Dyner TS, Lang W, Geaga J, et al. An open-label dose escalation trial or oral dehydroepiandrosterone tolerance and pharmacokinetics in patients with HIV disease. J Acquir Immune Defic Synd 1993; 6: 459–65.
Finlay EM, Morton MS, Gaskell SJ. Identification and quantification of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in saliva. Steroids 1982; 39: 63–71.
Flynn MA, Weaver-Osterholtz D, Sharpe-Timms KL, Allen S, Krause G. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in aging humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999; 84: 1527–33.
Frye RF, Kroboth PD, Folan RN, et al. Effect of DHEA on CYP3A-mediated metabolism of triazolam [abstract]. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000a; 67: 109.
Frye RF, Kroboth PD, Kroboth FJ, et al. Sex differences in the pharmacokinetics of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) after single-and multiple-dose administration in healthy older adults. J Clin Pharmacol 2000b; 40: 596–605.
Gaskell SJ, Pike AW, Griffiths K. Analysis of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Steroids 1980; 36: 219–28.
Gatto V, Aragno M, Gallo M, et al. Dehdroepiandrosterone inhibits the growth of DMBA- induced rat mammary carcinoma via the androgen receptor. Oncol Rep 1998; 5: 241–3.
Genelabs. GL701(DEA, prasterone) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in women. Briefing document. FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee, April 19, 2001. Available from:URL www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/01/briefing/Briefing information/ 3740b1_01_gendlabs.html. Accessed December 29, 2001
Goldberg M. Dehydroepiandrosterone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and prostate cancer [letter]. Ann Intern Med 1998; 129: 587–8.
Gurnell EM, Chatterjee VKK. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy. Eur J Endocrinol 2001; 145: 103–6.
Hasheeve D, Salvato P, Thompson C. DHEA: a potential treatment for HIV disease [abstract]. International Conference on AIDS, Institute, TX. 1994; 10: 223.
Huppert FA, Van Niekerk JK. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation for cognitive function (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, issue 4. Oxford: Update Software, 2001.
Jesse RL, Loesser K, Eich DM, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995; 774: 281–90.
Johnson DW, Phillipou G, James SK, Seaborn CJ, Ralph MM. Specific quantitation of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate by GC-MS: comparison with a direct RIA. Clin Chim Acta 1980; 106: 99–101.
King DS, Sharp RL, Vukovich MD, et al. Effect of oral androstenedione on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1999; 281; 2020–8.
Kline MD, Jaggers ED. Mania onset while using dehydroepiandrosterone. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156: 971.
Kroboth PD, Salek FS, Pittenger AL, Fabian TJ, Frye RF. DHEA and DHEA-S: a review. J Clin Pharmacol 1999; 39: 327–48.
LeBail JC, Allen K, Nicolas JC, Habrioux G. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate estrogenic action at its physiological plasma concentration in human breast cancer cell lines. Anticancer Res 1998; 18: 1683–8.
Leder BZ, Longcope C, Catlin DH, Ahrens B, Schoenfeld DA, Finkelstein, JS. Oral androstenedione administration and serum testosterone concentrations in young men. JAMA 2000; 283: 779–82.
Legrain S, Massien C, Lahlou N, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement administration: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in healthy elderly subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000; 85: 3208–17.
Lewis JG, Bason LM, Elder PA. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate: application to direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androsterone/epiandrosterone sulfates in plasma. Steroids 1996; 61: 682–7.
Lieberman S. An abbreviated account of some aspects of the biochemistry of DHEA, 19341995. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995; 774: 1–15.
Lingtak-Neander C, Horn J. Management of metabolic drug interactions, in: Carter BL, ed. Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program, module 8, 3rd ed. Kansas City, MO: American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 1999.
Longcope C. Dehydroepiandrosterone metabolism. J Endocrinol 1996; 150: S125–7.
Lubet RA, Gordon GB, Prough RA, et al. Modulation of methylnitrosourea-induced breast cancer in Sprague-Dawley rats by dehydroepiandrosterone: dose-dependent inhibition, effects of limited exposure, effects on peroxisomal enzymes, and lack of effects on levels of Ha-Ras mutations. Cancer Res 1998; 58: 921–36.
Mahesh VB, Greenblatt RB. The in vivo conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione to testosterone in the human. Acta Endocrinol 1962; 41: 400–6.
McCormick DL, Rao KV. Chemoprevention of hormone-dependent prostate cancer in the Wistar-Unilever rat. Eur Urol 1999; 35: 464–7.
Miller RA, Chrisp C. Lifelong treatment with oral DHEA sulfate does not preserve immune function, prevent disease, or improve survival in genetically heterogenous mice. JAGS 1999; 47: 960–6.
Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SC. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994; 78: 1360–8.
Mortola JF, Yen SS. The effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone on endocrine-metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990; 71: 696–704.
Muscarella P, Boros LG, Fisher WE, Rink C, Melvin WS. Oral dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits the growth of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice. J Surg Res 1998; 72: 154–7.
NCAA. 2002–2003 NCAA Banned Drug Classes. Avaialbe from: URL: http://www.ncaa.org. Accessed Sept. 4, 2002.
Nephew KP, Osborne E, Lubet RA, Grubbs CJ, Khan SA. Effects of oral administration of tamoxifen, toremifene, dehydroepiandrosterone, and vorozole on uterine histomorphology in the rat. Proc Soc Exp Bio Med 2000; 223: 288–94.
Parasrampuria J, Schwartz K, Petesch R. Quality control of dehydroepiandrosterone dietary supplement products [letter]. JAMA 1998; 280: 1565.
Pepping J. DHEA: dehyroepiandrosterone. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000; 57: 2048–56.
Petri M, Lahita R, McGuire J, et al. Results of the GL701 (DHEA) multicenter steroid-sparing SLE study. Arthritis Rheum 1997; 40 (suppl): S327.
Petrow V. A history of steroid chemistry: some contributions from European industry. Steroids 1996; 61: 473–5.
Piketty C, Jayle D, Leplege A, et al. Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral dehydroepiandrosterone in patients with advanced HIV disease. Clin Endocrinol 2001; 55: 325–30.
Pugh TD, Oberly TD, Weindruch R. Dietary intervention at middle age: caloric restriction but not dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increases lifespan and lifetime cancer incidence in mice. Cancer Res 1999; 59: 1642–8.
Sahelian R, Borken S. Dehydroepiandrosterone and cardiac arrhythmia [letter]. Ann Intern Med 1998; 129: 588.
Stoll BA. Dietary supplements of dehydroepiandrosterone in relation to breast cancer risk. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999; 53: 771–5.
Tummala S, Svec F. Correlation between the administered dose of DHEA and serum levels of DHEA and DHEA-S in human volunteers: analysis of published data. Clin Biochem 1999; 32: 355–61.
van Vollenhoven RF. Dehydroepiandrosterone in systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2000; 26: 349–62.
van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGuire JL. An open study of dehydroepiandrosterone in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 1994; 37: 1305–10.
van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGuire JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in systemic lupus erythematosus: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum1995; 38: 1826–31.
van Vollenhoven RF, Morabito LM, Engleman EG, McGuire JL. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with dehydroepiandrosterone: 50 patients treated up to 12 months. J Rheumatol 1998; 25: 285–9.
Van Vollenhoven RF, Park JL, Genovese MC, West JP, McGuire JL. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of dehydroepiandrosterone in severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 1999; 8: 181–7.
Wallace MB, Lim J, Cutler A, Bucci L. Effects of dehyroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: 1788–92.
Wellman M, Shane-McWhorter L, Orlando PL, Jennings JP. The role of dehydroepiandrosterone in diabetes mellitus. Pharmacotherapy 1999; 19: 582–91
Wolkowitz OM, Reus VI, Keebler A, et al. Double-blind treatment of major depression with dihydroepiandrosterone. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156: 646–9.
Wudy SA, Wachter UA, Homoki J, Teller WM, Shackleton CHL. Androgen metabolism assessment by routine gas chromatography mass spectrometry profiling of plasma steroids: part 1, unconjugated steroids. Steroids 1992; 57: 319–24.
Wudy SA, Wachter UA, Homoki J, Teller WM. Determination of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in human plasma by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using a deuterated internal standard: a method suitable for routine clinical use. Horm Res 1993; 39: 235–40.
Yen S. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and longevity: new clues for an old friend. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001; 98: 8167–9.
Zemaitis MA, Kroboth PD. Simplified procedure for measurement of serum dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate with gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and selected reaction monitoring. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1998; 716: 19–26.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pope, J.E., Cupp, M.J., Tracy, T.S. (2003). Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (Prasterone). In: Cupp, M.J., Tracy, T.S. (eds) Dietary Supplements. Forensic Science and Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-303-3_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-303-3_8
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9726-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-303-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive