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Dehydroepiandrosterone and insulinaemia
1IIIrd Dept. of Internal Medicine, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles Universtiy, Prague, Czech Republic.
Sbornik Lekarsky
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Therapeutic starvation in obese patients led to decreasing insulin and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels. This suggests a link between lower insulin and DHEA, a finding that warrants further research into their relationship.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Background:
- Low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and hyperinsulinemia are implicated as risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- Exogenous hyperinsulinemia, induced by hyperinsulinemic clamps, is known to decrease DHEA levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between DHEA and insulin during therapeutic starvation in obese individuals.
- To compare hormonal profiles between diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients.
Main Methods:
- A 2-week therapeutic starvation protocol was administered to 11 obese patients (5 non-diabetics, 6 diabetics).
- Blood levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and insulin were measured.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) was recorded for all participants.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in BMI, DHEA, DHEAS, or insulin levels were observed between diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients.
- A slight negative correlation between insulin and DHEA/DHEAS levels was noted in diabetic patients (r = -0.71, -0.73).
- During starvation, insulin levels decreased, and DHEA initially increased before decreasing (r = 0.93, p = 0.01).
Conclusions:
- The decrease in insulin during starvation may contribute to the observed decrease in DHEA.
- This finding contrasts with the suppressive effect of exogenous insulin on DHEA, highlighting the need for further investigation into endogenous DHEA-insulin dynamics.