Authors: Igwebuike, Ada; Irving, Brian A; Bigelow, Maureen L; Short, Kevin R; McConnell, Joseph P; Nair, K Sreekumaran
Abstract: CONTEXT: Recent studies disputed the widely promoted anti-aging effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation; however, conflicting data exist on whether physiological DHEA supplementation enhances exercise training effects on body composition, physical performance, and cardiometabolic risk in healthy postmenopausal women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether 12 wk of DHEA supplementation (50 mg/d) in postmenopausal women enhances exercise-related changes in body composition, physical performance, and cardiometabolic risk. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was a 12-wk randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and took place at the Mayo Clinic General Clinical Research Center (Rochester, MN). PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one sedentary, postmenopausal, Caucasian women (mean +/- sem age 64.6 +/- 1.0 yr) completed the study. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to one of two 12-wk interventions: 1) exercise training plus 50 mg/d of DHEA (n = 17), or 2) exercise training plus placebo (n = 14). The exercise intervention consisted of both endurance (4 d/wk) and resistance (3 d/wk) exercise components. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcomes were measures of body composition, physical performance, and measures of cardiometabolic risk. RESULTS: DHEA treatment with exercise resulted in increases in circulating sulfated DHEA (650%), total testosterone (100%), estradiol (165%), estrone (85%), and IGF-I (30%) (all P < or = 0.05, for all within and between treatment comparisons). Although exercise training alone significantly improved physical performance, body composition, and insulin sensitivity, administration of DHEA provided no additional benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of combined endurance and resistance training significantly improved body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol particle number and size, whereas DHEA had no additional benefits.
Keywords: Aged; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Body Composition/drug effects/physiology; Cholesterol/blood; Dehydroepiandrosterone/blood/*pharmacology; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate/blood; Double-Blind Method; Estradiol/blood; Estrone/blood; Female; Glucose Clamp Technique; Humans; Insulin Resistance/physiology; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism; Middle Aged; Physical Endurance/*drug effects/physiology; Physical Fitness/*physiology; Postmenopause/blood/*physiology; Testosterone/blood; Triglycerides/blood|
Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Volume: 93 Issue: 2 Pages: 534-8 Date: Feb. 1, 2008 PMID: 18029465 |
Igwebuike, Ada, Irving, Brian A, Bigelow, Maureen L, Short, Kevin R, McConnell, Joseph P, Nair, K Sreekumaran (2008) Lack of dehydroepiandrosterone effect on a combined endurance and resistance exercise program in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93: 534-8.
Comment on This Data Unit