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Federación Mexicana de Ginecología y Obstetricia, A.C.

2005, Number 05

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Ginecol Obstet Mex 2005; 73 (05)

Therapy with dehidroepiandrosterone improves symptoms in perimenopausal women

Hernández VM, Ángeles L, Saucedo R, Basurto L, Zárate A

Language: Spanish
References: 21
Page: 245-249
PDF size: 54.77 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Background: Depressive symptoms that occur with the onset of menopause are accompanied by changes in circulating neurotransmitters levels; these biochemical variations are considered to cause psychoemotional symptoms. Objective: To assess the effect of DHEA supplementation and its efficacy for relieving symptoms of emotional and psychological distress, as well as the action on circulating neurotransmitters in perimenopausal women.
Patients and methods: An open, comparative, clinical study included twenty perimenopausal women who received oral DHEA doses and ten women acted as comparison group. Setting: the Endocrine Research Unit, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City. Interventions and main outcome measures consisted of oral DHEA doses of 50 mg/day for six months. Green scale for climacteric women and Quality of Life Menopause Scale (QUALMS) were used to measure emotional and psychological symptoms and well-being. Serum levels of DHEA-S, dopamine, serotonin, and β-endorphin were quantified by specific assays at baseline and at the end of the treatment.
Results: Alleviation of psychoemotional symptoms was observed in all but 4 treated women. Baseline levels of serum DHEA-S, serotonin and β-endorphin increased significantly (p ‹ 0.001) from 2.1 ± 0.5 to 8.3 ± 2.1 mmol/L, 215.3 ± 86.4 to 310.4 ± 150.1 ng/mL, and from 9.8 ± 2.1 to 16.2 ± 7.1 pmol/L respectively (means ± SE) after treatment. In contrast, dopamine levels were unchanged.
Conclusions: DHEA relieved emotional and psychological symptoms, and elevated both serotonin and β-endorphin levels in perimenopausal women.


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