Background: Only scarce data exist concerning the relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or its sulfate form DHEAS and bone status in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).
Aim: We investigated whether a relationship existed between DHEAS and bone metabolism (as assessed based on serum osteocalcin [OC], and collagen type I cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide [CTx]). We also aimed to establish whether the above mentioned relationship might be affected by osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its soluble ligand sRANKL.
Material/methods: Fifty-six female patients with AN and 21 healthy female subjects aged 13 to 16 years participated in the study. Serum DHEAS, OC, CTx, OPG and sRANKL were measured by ELISA.
Results: Our female patients with AN demonstrated significant suppression of DHEAS and bone markers, an increase in OPG and sRANKL levels, and a reduction of the OPG/sRANKL ratio. DHEAS, CTx and the OPG/sRANKL ratio correlated positively with BMI. A significant positive correlation was also observed between DHEAS and the OPG/sRANKL ratio, OC and the OPG/sRANKL ratio, and CTx and sRANKL. The correlation was negative in the case of DHEAS and CTx, DHEAS and sRANKL, CTx and the OPG/sRANKL ratio, and sRANKL and the OPG/sRANKL ratio.
Discussion/conclusions: DHEAS suppression in girls with anorexia nervosa was associated with a decrease in the levels of bone markers, an increase in OPG and sRANKL concentrations and a significant decrease in the OPG/sRANKL ratio. DHEAS suppression in girls with anorexia nervosa might have a harmful effect on their bone tissue, probably via a shift in the OPG/RANKL ratio toward a functional excess of sRANKL.