Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women

NCT ID: NCT00317148

Last Updated: 2017-04-07

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

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-08-31

Study Completion Date

2007-12-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of daily oral intake of DHEA 50 mg for 4 months on reducing vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) compared to placebo administration in postmenopausal women.

Detailed Description

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Humans, along with the other primates, are unique among animal species in having adrenals that secrete large amounts of the inactive precursor steroids dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and especially its sulfate DHEA-S. The marked reduction in the formation of DHEA-S by the adrenals during aging results in a dramatic fall in the formation of androgens and estrogens in peripheral target tissues, a situation that has been proposed to be associated with age-related diseases including skin atrophy, insulin resistance and obesity. Much attention has been given to the benefits of DHEA administered to postmenopausal women, especially on the bone, skin, vagina and well being after oral as well as percutaneous administration of the precursor steroid.

This study proposes to study the effect of 50 mg oral DHEA capsules during a period of 4 months administered to postmenopausal women experiencing 50 or more moderate to severe hot flushes per week. Participants will be stratified by the number of hot flushes experienced per week. The two strata are: 50-70 or more than 70 hot flushes per week. During the study several biological and clinical parameters will be evaluated, as well as the reduction of the number of hot flashes and improvement of overall quality of life.

Subjects will be evaluated at specific time intervals during the study for the above mentioned parameters as well as tolerability and adverse reactions.

Conditions

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Hot Flashes

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Placebo

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Placebos

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo capsule

DHEA

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

DHEA capsule

Intervention Type DRUG

One capsule of DHEA

Interventions

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Placebos

Placebo capsule

Intervention Type DRUG

DHEA capsule

One capsule of DHEA

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy postmenopausal women with 50 or more moderate to severe hot flushes.
* Women between 40 to 70 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria

* Body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or more.
* Significant metabolic and endocrine diseases.
* Diagnosis of cancer.
* Use of steroids or drugs that interfere with the metabolism of estrogen.
* Use of any systemic estrogen, progestin, or DHEA in the eight weeks prior to randomization.
* Use of alternative therapies or natural products to treat postmenopausal symptoms in the four weeks prior to randomization.
* Palpable fibroids or uterine prolapse: Grade 2 or 3.
* Cigarette smoking
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Leonello Cusan, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CHUL Research Center

Fernand Labrie, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

CHUL Research Director

Locations

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Clinique des Traitements Hormonaux

Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Arlt W, Callies F, Koehler I, van Vlijmen JC, Fassnacht M, Strasburger CJ, Seibel MJ, Huebler D, Ernst M, Oettel M, Reincke M, Schulte HM, Allolio B. Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in healthy men with an age-related decline of dehydroepiandrosterone secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Oct;86(10):4686-92. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.10.7974.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11600526 (View on PubMed)

Baulieu EE. Neuroactive neurosteroids: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulphate. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1999 Dec;88(433):78-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1999.tb14408.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10626550 (View on PubMed)

Belanger A, Candas B, Dupont A, Cusan L, Diamond P, Gomez JL, Labrie F. Changes in serum concentrations of conjugated and unconjugated steroids in 40- to 80-year-old men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Oct;79(4):1086-90. doi: 10.1210/jcem.79.4.7962278.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7962278 (View on PubMed)

Diamond P, Cusan L, Gomez JL, Belanger A, Labrie F. Metabolic effects of 12-month percutaneous dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Endocrinol. 1996 Sep;150 Suppl:S43-50.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8943786 (View on PubMed)

Flynn MA, Weaver-Osterholtz D, Sharpe-Timms KL, Allen S, Krause G. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in aging humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 May;84(5):1527-33. doi: 10.1210/jcem.84.5.5672.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10323374 (View on PubMed)

Jedrzejuk D, Medras M, Milewicz A, Demissie M. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in healthy men with age-related decline of DHEA-S: effects on fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. Aging Male. 2003 Sep;6(3):151-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14628495 (View on PubMed)

Labrie F. Intracrinology. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 1991 Jul;78(3):C113-8. doi: 10.1016/0303-7207(91)90116-a.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1838082 (View on PubMed)

Labrie F, Belanger A, Cusan L, Gomez JL, Candas B. Marked decline in serum concentrations of adrenal C19 sex steroid precursors and conjugated androgen metabolites during aging. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Aug;82(8):2396-402. doi: 10.1210/jcem.82.8.4160.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9253307 (View on PubMed)

Labrie F, Diamond P, Cusan L, Gomez JL, Belanger A, Candas B. Effect of 12-month dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone, vagina, and endometrium in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Oct;82(10):3498-505. doi: 10.1210/jcem.82.10.4306.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9329392 (View on PubMed)

Labrie F, Simard J, Luu-The V, Belanger A, Pelletier G, Morel Y, Mebarki F, Sanchez R, Durocher F, Turgeon C, Labrie Y, Rheaume E, Labrie C, Lachance Y. The 3B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase gene family: lessons from type II 3B-HSD congenital deficiency.In: Signal Transduction in Testicular Cells. Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop. Hansson, V., Levy, F.O. and Tasken, K. (eds.), Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer-Verlag, Vol. Suppl. 2:pp. 185-218, 1996.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

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ERC-205

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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