Biologic Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Humans

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether DHEA replacement therapy decreases abdominal fat and improves insulin sensitivity.

Timeline

Start

2001-06

Primary completion

2004-02

Completion

2004-02

Outcome

Mixed primary results

paper The primary outcome measures were 6-month change in visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat PMID 15536111 ↗

paper DHEA therapy compared with placebo induced significant decreases in visceral fat area (-13 cm2 vs +3 cm2, respectively; P = .001) PMID 15536111 ↗

paper The insulin area under the curve (AUC) during the OGTT was significantly reduced after 6 months of DHEA therapy compared with placebo PMID 15536111 ↗

paper Despite the lower insulin levels, the glucose AUC was unchanged PMID 15536111 ↗

Publications

• Background Hansen PA, Han DH, Nolte LA, Chen M, Holloszy JO. DHEA protects against visceral obesity and muscle insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat diet. Am J Physiol. 1997 Nov;273(5):R1704-8. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1997.273.5.R1704.
• Background Han DH, Hansen PA, Chen MM, Holloszy JO. DHEA treatment reduces fat accumulation and protects against insulin resistance in male rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1998 Jan;53(1):B19-24. doi: 10.1093/gerona/53a.1.b19.
• Background Villareal DT, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Effects of DHEA replacement on bone mineral density and body composition in elderly women and men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2000 Nov;53(5):561-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2000.01131.x.
• Results Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.18.2243.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Dehydroepiandrosterone	Other / unclassified	50 mg	—

Indications