Abstract

Introduction: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) are the most abundant steroids in human plasma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between DHEA and DHEA-S and anthropometric indices in women with different grades of obesity. Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study investigated 170 women 35 normal weight (BMI= 18.9-24.9), 33 overweight, (BMI = 25-29.9) as 36 women (BMI= 30-34.9) as obese grade I, 33 (BMI = 35-39.9) as obese grade II and 33 (BMI≥40) as obese grade III. Body mass index was defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and glucose were measured by commercially available enzyme immunoassay kits and the glucose oxidase method, respectively. Results: There was a negative and significant correlation between DHEA and age in the normal (r=-0.457, P=0.006) overweight (r=-0.414, P=0.017) obese I(r=-0.402, P=0.015) obese II(r=-0.391, P=0.024) and obese III (r=-0.354, P=0.043) groups, respectively. Also a negative and significant correlation was found between DHEA-S and age in overweight (r=-0.394, P=0.019), obese grade I (r=-0.455, P=0.005) and obese grade II (r=-0.390, P=0.023) groups respectively. We found a positive and significant correlation between DHEA and frame size in individuals of the Obese I, Obese II and Obese III groups, and also a positive and significant correlation between DHEA-S and frame sizes in individuals of these three groups. Conclusion: Results showed that serum levels of DHEA decrease with increasing grades of obesity, whereas serum levels of DHEA-S increase with increasing obesity.