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Ketan Dhatariya, MBBS, MSc, MD, MS, FRCP

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In their assessment of the relationship between mortality and anabolic hormones, I am surprised that Maggio et al¹ continue to include dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in this group. Despite being the most abundant steroid hormone in the circulation system, the purpose of DHEA-S in humans has yet to be identified. There have been several studies looking at its effects on a number of different physiological and psychological systems that have not shed any light on its role.² With particular respect to the role described by Maggio et al,¹ observational and interventional studies have consistently failed to show a convincing relationship between muscle strength and body composition with DHEA-S levels^3-4 or have had conflicting results.^5-6 Thus, to class DHEA-S as an anabolic hormone is an assumption that has yet to be substantiated.

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Correspondence: Dr Dhatariya, Elsie Bertram Diabetes Centre, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS . . . [Full Text of this Article]

RELATED LETTER

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Has Not Been Substantiated as an Anabolic Hormone—Reply
Marcello Maggio, Gian Paolo Ceda, Shehzad Basaria, Giorgio Valenti, and Luigi Ferrucci
Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(13):1470.
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