Leowattana W, Bunyaratavej N, Puangvarin N, Pokum S, Arechep N, Chutchawal S
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2001 Oct;84 Suppl 2:S570-5.
The most abundant human steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), may have a multitude of beneficial effects, but declines with age. It is unclear whether DHEAS deficiency is an important factor contributing to increased bone resorption and impaired bone formation or not that leads to their bone loss. Thus, we investigated serum DHEAS, testosterone, osteocalcin (N-MID osteocalcin) and C-terminal telopeptides (beta-CrossLaps) in 121 healthy Thai males without bone diseases. Thirty-nine males (mean age 31.5 +/- 8.2, range 23-42 years) were recruited as the normal adult group and 82 males (mean age 61.2 +/- 7.0, range 52-77 years) were assigned as the elderly group. DHEAS levels were higher in the adult group compared with the elderly subjects (296.8 +/- 93.4 vs 172.6 +/- 99.8 microg/dL, p < 0.0001). Serum osteocalcin concentrations were also higher in the adult group compared with the elderly males (27.9 +/- 11.1 vs 23.2 +/- 7.9 ng/ml, p = 0.0091). However, serum testosterone and C-terminal telopeptides levels were not significantly different between the two groups. We concluded that low DHEAS concentrations are commonly encountered in elderly males and may relate to low osteocalcin levels due to the osteoblast stimulation effects of DHEAS. These findings may be implicated in the treatment of osteoporosis in elderly men by using DHEAS.
人体内含量最为丰富的类固醇——硫酸脱氢表雄酮（DHEAS），可能具有多种有益作用，但会随着年龄增长而下降。目前尚不清楚DHEAS缺乏是否是导致骨吸收增加和骨形成受损进而引起骨质流失的重要因素。因此，我们对121名无骨骼疾病的健康泰国男性的血清DHEAS、睾酮、骨钙素（N-端中分子骨钙素）和C端肽（β-交联C端肽）进行了研究。39名男性（平均年龄31.5±8.2岁，范围23 - 42岁）被招募为正常成年组，82名男性（平均年龄61.2±7.0岁，范围52 - 77岁）被分配到老年组。成年组的DHEAS水平高于老年组受试者（296.8±93.4对172.6±99.8μg/dL，p < 0.0001）。成年组男性的血清骨钙素浓度也高于老年男性（27.9±11.1对23.2±7.9 ng/ml，p = 0.0091）。然而，两组之间的血清睾酮和C端肽水平没有显著差异。我们得出结论，老年男性中普遍存在低DHEAS浓度，这可能与DHEAS对成骨细胞的刺激作用导致骨钙素水平降低有关。这些发现可能为老年男性骨质疏松症的治疗提供启示，即使用DHEAS进行治疗。
