Because such plaques often occur in the vessels that feed the heart,
treatment with DHEA could potentially raise a person's risk of heart disease.
In the U.S., DHEA is available without a prescription and, in recent years,
there has been a rapid rise in the unsupervised use of the drug. Despite DHEA's
popularity, its effects on plaque build-up in blood vessels is largely unknown,
according to Dr. David S. Celermajer, from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in
Sydney, and colleagues.
As described in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the
researchers conducted several laboratory experiments to determine how DHEA may
affect plaque build-up in blood vessels.
DHEA produced a rise in plaque-forming cells called foam cells, the authors
note. This effect seemed to be mediated by a male hormone receptor and involved
the production of two key enzymes that process a cholesterol component.
The potential effect of DHEA on the development of plaques through foam cell
formation is consistent with findings from previous epidemiologic studies,
Celermajer's team notes.
"Further basic and clinical studies are required to further elucidate the
potentially adverse cardiovascular effects of DHEA," they add.
SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, December 3, 2003.
