Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) dynamics was investigated in 14 normoglycemic men during intravenous glucose tolerance test with 0.3 g/kg glucose. The test confirmed the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in 6 subjects.
A minimal model based calculation of insulin sensitivity (SI) was performed. A significant correlation between SI and basal DHEA level was found (r = 0.65, p = 0.02).
Linear regression indicated SI to be linearly related to the basal DHEA level (SI = -0.534 + 0.105xDHEA). An early DHEA elevation within 30 min was observed in most patients.
Using stepwise regression, we obtained a model where DHEA elevation area (DA) was a function of early insulin peak (IP) and early insulin peak time (IPT): DA = 1.72xIP-52.03xlog IPT. Age, BMI, SI and calculated remote insulin level failed to enter the equation.
No changes in or correlation between DHEA-sulfate levels were observed. We conclude that basal DHEA level is related to insulin sensitivity.
DHEA response during ivGTT is related to the first phase insulin secretion.