Steroid reference intervals in women: influence of menopause, age and metabolism

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the impact of age, obesity and metabolic parameters on thirteen circulating steroids in reproductive and menopausal age. To define reference intervals (RI). Design. Cross-sectional. Methods. 325 drug-free, healthy and eumenorrheic women were selected from the general population. Independent relationships of LC-MS/MS-determined steroid levels with age, body mass index (BMI) and metabolic parameters were estimated. Reference sub-cohorts were defined for calculating upper and lower limits in reproductive age, menstrual phases and menopause, and these were compared with limits in dysmetabolic sub-cohorts. Results. Lower androgens, pro-androgens and estrogens, but higher cortisol and metabolites were found in menopausal compared to reproductive age women. Androgens and precursors decreased during reproductive age (P<0.001–P=0.002) but not after menopause. 17OH-progesterone decreased with BMI (P=0.006) and glucocorticoids with waist circumference (P<0.001–P=0.002) in reproductive age, but increased with triglycerides (P=0.011-P=0.038) after menopause. Inverse associations of dihydrotestosterone with BMI (P=0.004) and HDL-cholesterol (P=0.010), estrone with total cholesterol (P=0.033) and estradiol with triglycerides (P=0.011) were found in reproductive age. After menopause, estrone increased with waist circumference (P<0.001) and decreased with insulin resistance (P=0.012). Ovarian steroid RI were estimated in menstrual phases and menopause. Age- and reproductive status-specific RI were generated for androgens, precursors and corticosteroids. Lower limits for reproductive age cortisol (P=0.020) and menopausal 11-deoxycortisol (P=0.003) in dysmetabolic sub-cohorts were reduced and increased, respectively, compared to reference limits. Conclusions: Obesity and dysmetabolism differently influence circulating steroids in reproductive and menopausal status. Age, menstrual and menopausal status-specific RI were provided by LC-MS/MS for a broad steroid panel.

Temperature and humidity index (THI) affects salivary cortisol (HC) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations in growing bulls following stress generated by performance test procedures

“…Studies in humans have demonstrated a circadian pattern of DHEA secretions in young subjects, which tend to disappear with aging (32,33). Notably, in humans, serum and salivary DHEA showed an elevated degree of correlation, and an elevated decline in salivary DHEA can be observed between 8 and 12 a.m. (33). Patterns of salivary DHEA concentrations at T0 observed in this study support the hypothesis of a daily rhythmicity of DHEA secretion also in the bovine.…”

“…The distribution of the rough data observed at T0 for salivary HC in this study agrees with the circadian secretory patterns observed in bulls and, on average, they were higher in samples collected before 11:00 h. We are not aware of studies that investigated the circadian secretion of DHEA in cattle. Studies in humans have demonstrated a circadian pattern of DHEA secretions in young subjects, which tend to disappear with aging (32,33). Notably, in humans, serum and salivary DHEA showed an elevated degree of correlation, and an elevated decline in salivary DHEA can be observed between 8 and 12 a.m. (33).…”

Exploratory metabolomic analysis for characterizing the metabolic profile of the urinary bladder under estrogen deprivation

“…Further research is needed to explore whether the decrease of 3, 5-tetradecadiencarnitine in the bladder under estrogen deprivation is mediated by changes in fatty acid transport and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Although there is no unified conclusion on the effects of menopause on the levels and rhythms of cortisol (33)(34)(35), this study is the first to discover that estrogen deprivation can lead to a decrease in the cortisol concentration of bladder tissue. Recent studies have found that plasma cortisol is involved in regulating the day-night micturition rhythm of the bladder (36).…”

Exploratory Metabolomic Analysis for Characterizing the Metabolic Profile of the Urinary Bladder under Estrogen Deprivation

“…Further research is needed to explore whether the decrease of 3, 5-tetradecadiencarnitine in the bladder under estrogen deprivation is mediated by changes in fatty acid transport and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Although there is no unified conclusion on the effects of menopause on the levels and rhythms of cortisol [33][34][35], this study is the first to discover that estrogen deprivation can lead to a decrease in the cortisol concentration of bladder tissue. Recent studies have found that plasma cortisol is involved in regulating the day-night micturition rhythm of the bladder [36].…”