Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation is not beneficial in the late postmenopausal period in diet-induced obese rats

Author(s)

Teixeira, Caio Jordao ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Luciene Maria ^[1] ; Veras, Katherine ^[2] ; da Cunha Araujo, Layanne Cabral ^[1] ; Curi, Rui ^[3] ; de Oliveira Carvalho, Carla Roberta ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, 1524 Prof Lineu Prestes Ave, ICB 1, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Mogi das Cruzes, Dept Nutr, 200 Dr Candido XA Souza Ave, BR-08780911 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Cruzeiro Univ, Interdisciplinary Postgrad Program Hlth Sci, 868 Galvao Bueno, BR-01506000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Life Sciences; v. 202, p. 110-116, JUN 1 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Aims: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal steroid hormone that is a precursor of sexual hormones. It is reduced during aging and is strongly associated with insulin resistance and obesity. There is evidence for beneficial effects of this steroid, in both human and animal models, during perimenopause. However, the impact of DHEA treatment during late postmenopause on glucose metabolism is not clearly documented. We tested the hypothesis that DHEA supplementation could improve insulin sensitivity in an ovariectomized obese rat model (OVX) that was fed a high-fat diet for 11 weeks. Main methods: Female Wistar rats at 8 weeks of age were OVX or SHAM-operated. Eight weeks after the surgery, the animals were randomly treated with vehicle or DHEA for 3 weeks. Food intake, metabolic parameters and insulin sensitivity were evaluated. Key findings: Following the ovariectomy, increased body weight gain, adiposity index, and feeding efficiency were observed, despite there being no change in food and energy intake. The OVX rats also displayed glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, decreased insulin-induced IRS1/2 tyrosine phosphorylation in the skeletal muscle, and reduced serum VLDL-c and TAG levels. OVX rats treated with 10 mg/kg DHEA (OVX + DHEA) exhibited estradiol (E-2) serum levels similar to SHAM animals, with no change in uterus mass. DHEA treatment also resulted in an increase in energy intake. Significance: Despite the positive effects of DHEA supplementation observed in menopausal women and ovariectomized rats, a potential negative effect on glucose metabolism and insulin action in the late postmenopausal condition in diet-induced obese OVX rats are reported. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/14183-7 - Effect of supplementation with DHEA in the heart of rats with hypertension induced by castration and high fat diet
• Grantee: Caio Jordão Teixeira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master