Biological Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the Elderly

NCT ID: NCT00111930

Last Updated: 2009-12-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

144 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2000-08-31

Study Completion Date

2005-03-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of the study is to examine whether DHEA replacement therapy is associated with beneficial changes in body composition (i.e., increases in lean mass and bone mass, and decreases in fat mass).

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The central hypothesis of this study is that restoring circulating levels of the adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in older people with low levels to more youthful levels will be associated with beneficial changes in lean mass, fat mass and bone mass.

This will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Seventy-two men and 72 women, over 60 years old, who are healthy, will be randomized to receive either a replacement dose of DHEA or placebo for 1 year. The replacement dose of DHEA will bring circulating DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) levels into the range of normal in healthy 20-30 year-old women (approximately 8 micromoles per liter \[μM\] or 295 micrograms per deciliter \[µg/dL\]) and men (approximately 10 micromoles per liter \[μM\] or 368 micrograms per deciliter \[µg/dL\]).

Fat mass and fat-free body mass will be evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and intra-abdominal fat volume and thigh muscle area will be measured by computed tomography (CT). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur will be measured by DXA and biochemical markers of bone resorption and formation. Glucose tolerance and insulin response will be evaluated using an oral glucose tolerance test.

If this study confirms the results of a previous preliminary study, the current study is likely to impact future scientific study regarding the role of DHEA deficiency in the biology of aging and its role as a therapeutic agent for the prevention of sarcopenia.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Healthy

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

dehydroepiandrosterone DHEAS bone mineral density body composition lean mass fat mass bone mass decreased DHEAS levels

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

DHEA

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy women and men
* Age 60 or older
* Age-appropriate DHEAS levels, but 70% lower than normal DHEAS levels for a 25-year old

Exclusion Criteria

* Contraindications to DHEA treatment (personal history of breast cancer or other estrogen-dependent neoplasms, acute liver disease, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding in women, history or evidence of prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men)
* Angina
* Resting blood pressure over 180/95
* Chronic infections
* Hypothyroidism
* Depression
* Hormone therapy within the previous 6 months
* Insulin-dependent or poorly controlled diabetes
* Serum DHEAS level greater than 140 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL)

Prohibited Medications:

* Hormone therapy other than stable regimen of thyroid replacement
* Oral glucocorticoids
* Insulin
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Colorado, Denver

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center

Denver, Colorado, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.18.2243.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15536111 (View on PubMed)

Legrain S, Girard L. Pharmacology and therapeutic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone in older subjects. Drugs Aging. 2003;20(13):949-67. doi: 10.2165/00002512-200320130-00001.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14561100 (View on PubMed)

Kahn AJ, Halloran B, Wolkowitz O, Brizendine L. Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation and bone turnover in middle-aged to elderly men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Apr;87(4):1544-9. doi: 10.1210/jcem.87.4.8396.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11932279 (View on PubMed)

Nippoldt TB, Nair KS. Is there a case for DHEA replacement? Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Oct;12(3):507-20. doi: 10.1016/s0950-351x(98)80286-3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10332570 (View on PubMed)

Jankowski CM, Gozansky WS, Schwartz RS, Dahl DJ, Kittelson JM, Scott SM, Van Pelt RE, Kohrt WM. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Aug;91(8):2986-93. doi: 10.1210/jc.2005-2484. Epub 2006 May 30.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 16735495 (View on PubMed)

Jankowski CM, Gozansky WS, Kittelson JM, Van Pelt RE, Schwartz RS, Kohrt WM. Increases in bone mineral density in response to oral dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in older adults appear to be mediated by serum estrogens. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Dec;93(12):4767-73. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-2614. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 18812486 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

AG018857

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AG0019

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id