Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphated derivative DHEAS are the most abundant circulating steroids, and are derived from the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex. The foetal adrenals synthesise signi®cant quantities of DHEA, but production of this steroid falls postnatally. The onset of adrenarche (between the ages of 6 and 8 years) is characterised by increasing biosynthesis of DHEA...

In areas where Plasmodium falciparum malaria is endemic, parasite density, morbidity, and mortality decrease with increasing age, which supports the view that years of cumulative exposure are necessary for the expression of maximal protective immunity. Developmental changes in the host also have been implicated in the expression of maximal resistance. To further evaluate the contribution of hos...

Dehydroepiandrosterone, a major secretory steroid hormone of the human adrenal gland, possesses mitoinhibitory and anticarcinogenic properties. It also induces peroxisome proliferation in the livers of rats and mice. Because peroxisome proliferators exhibit hepatocarcinogenic potential, it is necessary to examine the long term hepatic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone since this hormone is cont...

Consumption of soy protein has been associated with altered risk of developing endocrine-regulated cancers. This study was designed to assess the independent effect of soy relative to animal protein and soy-derived isoflavones on circulating estrogen and androgen concentrations in postmenopausal women and older men. Forty-two subjects (> 50 yr) with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of...

OBJECTIVE To determine the role of adrenal androgenic hormone precursors in female sexual function. DESIGN A review of current literature on sexual function and the androgen precursor hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). RESULT(S) The C(19) steroid DHEA is both an ovarian and adrenal androgen precursor hormone, whereas DHEAS is only synthesized i...

We have previously shown that black children have higher blood pressures than white children. In the present study, we examined whether a possible racial difference in adrenal androgen production during adrenarche might contribute to the racial disparity in blood pressure. Adrenal androgen production was estimated from urinary excretion of adrenal androgen metabolites that showed cross-reactivi...

Immunity to Plasmodium falciparum develops slowly in areas of endemicity, and this is often ascribed to poorly immunogenic or highly variant parasite antigens. However, among populations newly exposed to malaria, adults acquire immunity more rapidly than children. We examined the relationship between pubertal development and resistance to P. falciparum. During two transmission seasons in wester...

BACKGROUND Previous studies suggested that alterations in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. AIM To compare serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with the response to antipsychotic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this clinical prospective study were...

OBJECTIVES To investigated serum cortisol and serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) levels between fibromyalgia (FMS) patients and a control group, and the effect of balneotherapy (BT) on these hormones.   METHODS Seventy-two patients with FMS and 39 healthy volunteers were included in the study. This prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in the Medical Faculty, Physi...