The specific features of metabolism of DHEA and the current possibilities of its use for the correction of reproductive dysfunction

Goncharov N.P., Dedov I.I., Katsia G.V., Gavisova A.A., Sukhikh G.T.

1Endocrinology Research Center, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow 115478, Moskvorechye str. 1, Russia; 2Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow 117997, Ac. Oparina str. 4, Russia
Objective. To present the characteristics of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolism and to consider species differences in the synthesis of DHEA.
Material and methods. The review includes the data of foreign and Russian articles published in the past years, which had been found in Pubmed on this topic.
Results. The paper proves the decisive role of DHEA as a source of the biologically active sex steroids testosterone and estrogens in peripheral tissues. It considers the bioavailability and possible mechanisms of action of DHEA. Experimental and clinical studies have revealed that the bioavailability of transdermal DHEA is higher than that of oral DHEA.
Conclusion. Most recent studies in men and women demonstrate the pronounced relationship of the body’s bioavailability of DHEA as an aqueous gel of water-insoluble steroids. The paper presents the authors’ technology for the transdermal administration of DHEA as an aqueous gel of water-insoluble C18, C19, and C21 steroids, by using deacetylated chitin (chitosan) as a carrier, which can substantially reduce the dose of the hormone administered.

Keywords

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA-S
chitin
chitosan
species characteristics
aging
biosynthesis
bioavailability
transdermal administration

Supplementary Materials

  1. Fig. 1. The average indices of the content of the main steroid hormones in peripheral blood in young men (according to the Laboratory of Biochemical Endocrinology and Hormonal Analysis of the State Institution of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)
  2. Fig. 2. Individual age dynamics of DHEA in men in the range of 23 – 112 years

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Received 03.02.2017

Accepted 17.02.2017

About the Authors

Goncharov Nikolai Petrovich, MD, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of biochemical endocrinology and hormonal analysis, Endocrinology Research Center,
Ministry of Health of Russia. 115478, Russia, Moscow, Moskvorechye str. 1. Tel.: +74993249529. E-mail: goncharovn@endocrincentr.ru
Dedov Ivan I., Ph.D., professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vice-President of RAS, Director of the Endocrinology Research Center,
Ministry of Health of Russia. 117036, Russia, Moscow, Dmitry Ulyanov str. 11. Tel.: +74995000090
Katsia Gulinara Viktorovna, MD, main researcher department of biochemical endocrinology and hormonal analysis, Endocrinology Research Center,
Ministry of Health of Russia. 115478, Russia, Moscow, Moskvorechye str. 1. Tel.: +74993249529.
Gavisova Alla Anatolievna, Candidate of Medical Science, Senior Researcher Department of Conservation and Restoration of the Reproductive Function,
Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia. 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str. 4. E-mail: gavialla@yandex.ru
Sukhikh Gennady Tihonovich, MD, professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Research Center of Obstetrics,
Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia. 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str. 4. Tel.: +74954381800

For citations: Goncharov N.P., Dedov I.I., Katsia G.V., Gavisova A.A.,
Sukhikh G.T. The specific features of metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone and the current possibilities of its use for the correction of reproductive dysfunction.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017; (7): 18-26. (in Russian)
http://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2017.7.18-26

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