Relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and serum lipid levels in Japanese men.

The relationships between Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) level and atherosclerosis were studied using 90 men who received a general medical examination in their company. The mean serum DHEAS level was 1510.2 ng/ml, while the frequency distribution was skewed to a lower value. A marked linear decline of levels with age was observed. DHEAS levels were positively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) (r = 0.22, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) (r = -0.31, p < 0.001), even after adjustment for age. The mean Atherogenic index (AI) was significant inversely correlated with rise of tertiles of the DHEAS level, both before and after adjustment for age, total cholesterol (TC), HDLC and triglyceride (TG). These results suggest that DHEAS may have an important role in the etiology and prevention of atherosclerosis.