Are dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and lipids associated with erectile dysfunction?

Considering the results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (1994) we undertook the current investigation in an attempt to clarify the role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone and lipids on age related deterioration of erectile function.

Forty males (13 under 40 years of age and 27 over 40) with erectile dysfunction were investigated. Seventeen healthy subjects (8 under 40 and 9 over 40 years) volunteered as controls. Serum levels of DHEAS, testosterone, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-ch), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-ch) and triglycerides were assessed in blood samples.

Plasma levels of DHEAS in patients over 40 years of age (4.17 +/- 2.76 micromol/l) were significantly lower in comparison with the younger group of patients (10.49 +/- 3.87 micromol/l), P < 0.001. There was no statistically significant difference in the DHEAS levels between patients and controls in the same age group. DHEAS in the patients showed an inverse correlation with age (r = -0.705, P < 0.001) and a positive correlation with testosterone (r = +0.402, P < 0.01). The same was found in the controls. The HDL-ch results were in the reference range. The total cholesterol levels (5.35 +/- 0.74 mmol/l) and LDL-ch levels (3.58 +/- 0.76 mmol/l) of the patients with erectile dysfunction in the group under 40 years were significantly higher in comparison with the controls (4.21 +/- 0.69 and 2.46 +/- 0.74 mmol/l, respectively, P <0.01).

The data indicates that the decline in DHEAS is an age-related process rather than a causative factor of erectile dysfunction; total cholesterol and mainly LDL-ch may contribute to erectile dysfunction, especially in younger men.