Aging, Insulin Resistance, Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
abdominal fat, dehydroepiandrosterone, Insulin sensitivity
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether DHEA replacement therapy decreases abdominal fat and improves insulin sensitivity.
Detailed description
Studies on rats and mice have shown that the adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) reduces abdominal visceral fat and protects against insulin resistance. This study was done to learn if DHEA replacement therapy decreases abdominal obesity and improves insulin action in humans. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 50 mg per day of DHEA or a placebo at bedtime for 6 months. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and oral glucose tolerance tests at the beginning and conclusion of the study. Other tests included measurements of hormones and lipids.
Interventions
DRUGDHEA
Sponsors
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 78 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 65 to 78 years old * Physically healthy * Non-smoker * On stable medications for at least 6 months * Stable body weight for the past year
Exclusion criteria
* Serious active medical problems * Hormone therapy * Abnormal PSA (prostate specific antigen) in men
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 6-month change in visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat | — |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed