Objectives: Positive association between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been observed in men but not women. We aimed to examine the cross-sectional relationships of DHEAS, estradiol (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) to serum lipid concentrations in post-menopausal Japanese women.
Methods: A total of 56 post-menopausal Japanese women were derived from female residents in Takayama City in Japan. The information on body size, disease history, reproductive history, diet, and physical activity were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire.
Results: DHEAS was significantly and positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol after controlling for age and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.28). There was no correlation between DHEAS and total-cholesterol (r = -0.02). E2 was not significantly correlated with total- and HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride. However, SHBG-unbound E2 was significantly positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.34) and negatively correlated with triglyceride (r = -0.27) after controlling for age and BMI. SHBG was negatively correlated with triglyceride, although the correlation was not statistically significant (r = -0.22).
Conclusion: These data suggest favorable effect of DHEAS as well as E2 and SHBG on lipid profile in Japanese post-menopausal women.