To examine the serum levels of
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and its relation with
insulin resistance and the other risk factors in
essential hypertension, serum DHEAS and
insulin sensitivity were assessed in 35 male hypertensive and 17 male healthy control subjects aged 50-59 years. Fasting plasma
insulin and the area under curve of plasma
insulin were determined during a 75 g oral
glucose tolerance test.
Insulin sensitivity was measured by the steady state plasma
glucose method. Fasting plasma
insulin and the area under curve of plasma
insulin were significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in control group. Steady state plasma
glucose was significantly higher in hypertensive subjects indicating
insulin resistance compared with control subjects. On the other hand, fasting serum DHEAS levels were significantly lower in the hypertensive group than in the control group. Fasting serum DHEAS levels were inversely correlated with steady state plasma
glucose significantly (p=0.0008), indicating a close association between DHEAS levels and
insulin resistance. Fasting serum DHEAS was inversely correlated with systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma
insulin. In multiple regression analysis of hypertensive subjects, steady state plasma
glucose was the strongest determinant of the fasting serum level of DHEAS, followed by systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma
insulin. These 3 factors accounted for 51.6% of the variation in DHEAS. In nonobese and nondiabetic
essential hypertension, serum DHEAS was lower and
insulin resistance was the most significant independent determinant of reduced serum DHEAS, followed by systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma
insulin.