"DHEA Treatment Reduces Fat Accumulation and protects Against Insulin
Resistance in Male Rats"
Journal of Gerontology 53A(1): B19-B24 1998
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) protects male rats against the accumulation of body fat and development of insulin resistance with advancing age. We found that supplementation of the diet with 0.3% DHEA between the ages of 5 months and =25 months resulted in a significantly lower final body weight (DHEA, 593 +- 18 g vs 668 +- 12 g, p<0.02), despite no decrease in food intake. Lean body mass was unaffected by the DHEA, and the lower body weight was due to a =25% reduction in body fat. The rate of glucose disposal during a euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp was 30% higher in the DHEA group than in the sedentary controls due to a greater insulin responsiveness. The DHEA administration was as effective in reducing body fat content and maintaining insulin responsiveness as exercise in the form of voluntary wheel running. The DHEA had no significant effect on muscle GLUT4 content. A preliminary experiment provided evidence suggesting that muscle insulin signaling, as reflected in binding of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to the insulin recptor substrate-1, was enhanced in the DHEA-treated and wheel running groups as compared to controls. These results provide evidence that DHEA, like exercise, protects against fat accumulation and development of insulin resistance in rats.