A FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF SALIVARY DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE (DHEA-S) IN RESPONSE TO ACUTE STRESS
Open Access
- Author:
- Whetzel, Courtney Allison
- Graduate Program:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 23, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Laura Klein, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Sonia Angele Cavigelli, Committee Member
Elizabeth Susman, Committee Member
David Manuel Almeida, Committee Member - Keywords:
- DHEA-S
cortisol
stress - Abstract:
- Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is one of the most widely circulating hormones in the body, and adult men have higher DHEA-S levels compared to adult women. Due to its unique lifetime rhythm (i.e., levels rise at 6-8 yrs, peak at 20-30 yrs, decline until death) and purported protective role in the health effects of aging (e.g., cardiovascular disease, dementia), DHEA-S has been studied as an anti-aging hormone. The antiglucocorticoid properties of DHEA-S suggest that it may protect against the long-term health consequences of chronic, stress-induced cortisol release. Little is known about the role of DHEA-S in the biological stress response in humans, but a handful of studies suggest that DHEA-S levels increase following intense physical stressors. This dissertation consists of 3 studies designed to investigate DHEA-S responses to acute laboratory stress in healthy adults. The first study was designed to 1) validate DHEA-S levels in saliva collected by Salivette® vs passive drool, 2) confirm sex differences in DHEA-S levels and 3) compare morning and late afternoon DHEA-S levels. Results validate salivary DHEA-S levels collected via Salivette® and confirm that men have higher levels of DHEA-S than do women. Further, DHEA-S levels are higher in the morning than in the late afternoon, which has not been reported before. The second and third studies measured DHEA-S levels in response to acute laboratory stressors. Study 2 compared salivary and serum DHEA-S across 3 time points (baseline, stress, recovery) in men and women in the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. Results indicate that stress reduces DHEA-S levels, and that DHEA-S levels among women in the luteal phase rise above baseline levels during recovery. Study 3 expanded these results by measuring salivary DHEA-S levels following a math stressor in men given 1 of 3 different doses of a known sympathomimetic, caffeine (i.e., 0, 200, or 400 mg). Results confirmed the Study 2 findings and indicate that stress, but not caffeine, reduce DHEA-S levels among men. This dissertation ends with a discussion of the health implications of stress-induced changes in DHEA-S, how these changes relate to cortisol and recommendations for future studies.