Background and aims: Serum dehydroepiandrosterone- sulfate (DHEAS), the most abundant adrenal steroid hormone, may predict aging status and longevity in humans. The aims of this study are to clarify the fundamental properties of serum DHEAS as a biomarker for health in middle-aged men.
Methods: We investigated correlations of serum DHEAS with age or conventional health indices (body mass index, blood pressure, and 12 serum/blood tests) and associations of serum DHEAS with lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, exercise, sleep) in 384 healthy men aged 30-49 years, randomly selected from voluntary attendees at a checkup.
Results: Serum DHEAS had an inverse and stronger correlation with age (Spearman's r=-0.320, p<0.001) than with any conventional health indices used here. Regardless of age and BMI adjustments, serum DHEAS had a weak correlation with serum uric acid (crude Spearman's r=0.198, p<0.001), and its correlations with other conventional health indices were weaker or non-significant. Serum DHEAS rose in parallel with increased smoking and alcohol intake (p for trend <0.001 in both), but had no significant relationships with exercise or sleep.
Conclusions: Serum DHEAS reflects age better than health status evaluated by conventional health indices, and may increase with cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in middle-aged healthy men.