Associations of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Prepubertal Children.

Abstract

Context:

Premature adrenarche (PA) has been associated with overweight and insulin resistance, but the associations of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentration with other cardiometabolic risk factors are uncertain.

Objective:

To examine the associations of serum DHEAS concentration with several cardiometabolic risk factors in children.

Design:

Cross-sectional data from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study.

Participants:

Population sample of 207 girls and 225 boys aged 7.6 ± 0.4 years.

Main Outcome Measures:

Cardiometabolic risk factors by serum DHEAS concentration.

Results:

DHEAS correlated positively with body mass index standard deviation score, body fat percentage, lean body mass, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) when adjusted for age and sex. The associations of DHEAS with hs-CRP and ALT disappeared when adjusted also for body fat percentage. When further adjusted for birth weight SD score, DHEAS correlated negatively with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and LDL/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio. LDL cholesterol was lower in children with DHEAS ≥40 µg/dL than in those with DHEAS <40 µg/dL, adjusted for age, sex, and body fat percentage (86.5 vs 92.3 mg/dL, P = 0.029). This association strengthened after further adjustment for birth weight SD score (85.3 vs 92.3 mg/dL, P = 0.012).

Conclusion:

Higher DHEAS is not associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk in prepubertal children. Instead, it may be protective, evidenced by an association with lower LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. The increased cardiometabolic risk in PA shown in many studies may be due to low birth weight and childhood overweight associated with PA.

• Authors: Aino Mäntyselkä, Virpi Lindi, Anna Viitasalo, Aino-Maija Eloranta, Jyrki Ågren, Sari Väisänen, Raimo Voutilainen, Tomi Laitinen, Timo A Lakka, Jarmo Jääskeläinen
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 103 Issue 7 Pg. 2592-2600 (07 01 2018) ISSN: 1945-7197 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29757399 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
• C-Reactive Protein
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Birth Weight
• Body Composition
• Body Mass Index
• C-Reactive Protein
• Cardiovascular Diseases (etiology)
• Child
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Metabolic Diseases (etiology)
• Puberty, Precocious (etiology)
• Risk Factors