Background
: DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex and has several roles such as increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering serum lipid, improving obesity, and anti-cancer effects. DHEA levels vary profoundly and levels decline as age increases. But the role of DHEA in the aging process is not yet fully understood. Total antioxidant status(TAS) which provides information of one's antioxidant capacity, also decreases with age. In this study, we investigated the relationship between TAS and serum DHEA-s concentration.

Methods : By reviewing the medical records of 197 healthy adults, we determined the serum levels of DHEA-s and TAS according to BMI, pulse pressure, WBC, hs-CRP, A/G ratio, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, ferritin, uric acid and total bilirubin. We studied the relationship between the parameters by Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis.

Results : The mean level for TAS and serum DHEA-s was 1.20 mml/L and 177.3 ug/mL, respectively. Serum DHEA-s correlated positively with TAS (r=0.44) and negatively for age (r=-0.44). WBC, triglyceride and uric acid also showed statistically significant correlations. But, according to multiple regression analysis DHEA-s only correlated with TAS and age.

Conclusion : Serum DHEA-s correlates positively with TAS.

Background
: Few studies have been done regarding the level of DHEA which is influenced by age, and their effect on cardiovascular disease and prevention of cancer. It is a well known fact that the level of DHEA is decreased with age and the aging is not a correctable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to identify plasma DHEA-S change by age and to find out if there was any correlation with serum DHEA-S and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods : The author collected blood from 85 males and 80females who had no particular disease history and no specific findings on physical examination. If there were any changes of DHEA according to age, we analyzed the correlation of DHEA with cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and obesity index (body mass index, waist/hip ratio).

Results : In both males and females, plasma DHEA-S level peaked at third decade and the concentration of DHEA was significantly decreased according to age (p<0.01). In males, DHEA-S showed no correlations with cardiovascular risk factors. In females, DHEA-S showed negative correlations with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein. Also, high density lipoprotein positively correlated with DHEA-S. These correlations in female subjects, however, disappeared after multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion : In both males and females, plasma DHEA-S was significantly decreased with advancing age. There was no significant correlation between DHEA-S and cardiovascular risk factors in both men and women.