SAT-LB068 Involvement of Serum Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate in Male Erythropoietic Activity

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex. It is synthesized from pregnenolone and further metabolized to androstenedione, testosterone, and estrogen. DHEA and its sulfated ester (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating steroids in humans. DHEAS is converted to DHEA in a linear manner. Since its serum concentration is 300-500 times higher than that of DHEA, DHEAS serves as a circulating reservoir for DHEA. DHEAS secretion increases during adrenarche, peaks between the ages of 15-25 years, and decreases steadily with age thereafter. This age-related decline in DHEAS secretion is termed adrenopause and is presumably the result of the normal aging processes.DHEAS has recently attracted widespread attention because of its anti-aging effects. However, since studies of the physiological effects of DHEAS in specific organ systems are limited, it is unclear how DHEAS contributes to anti-aging. DHEAS may also extend lifespan: several prospective population-based studies associate low DHEAS levels with high mortality rates, especially in elderly men. Toward the goal of determining a mechanistic basis for these actions of DHEAS, we assessed the relationships between serum DHEAS levels and various patient characteristics. The aim of the present study was to determine how age-related decreases in serum DHEAS levels affect various physiological processes.We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients in whom serum DHEAS levels were measured in our department, and assessed the relationships between serum DHEAS levels and various patient characteristics. Among the 149 patients included in our analysis (mean age: 52.7±17.6 years, range: 15-84 years), 54 (36.2%) were men. Serum DHEAS levels inversely correlated with age in men (R = -0.810, p < 0.01) and to a lesser extent in women (R = -0.391, p < 0.01). In women, age better correlated with DHEAS/ACTH ratios (R = -0.444, p < 0.01) than DHEAS levels. Of note, there was a significant positive association between DHEAS levels and hemoglobin (R = 0.419, p < 0.01) and hematocrit (R = 0.375, p < 0.01) levels in men but not women.Collectively, our data indicate that reduced DHEAS secretion inhibits erythropoietic activity in aging men, possibly owing to the erythropoietic androgenic actions of DHEAS. Importantly, these findings suggest that the age-associated decline in DHEAS secretion might decrease erythropoietic activity in aging men. It is also possible that the adrenal cortex, the source of DHEAS, is dysfunctional in anemic men. Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.