Cited by 81Hormonal and reproductive studiesAdrenal Hormones and DisordersSexual Differentiation and Disorders

Sex, age, pubertal development and use of oral contraceptives in relation to serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, δ4-androstenedione, testosterone and their ratios in children, adolescents and young adults

Søeborg, Tue, Frederiksen, Hanne, Mouritsen, Annette, Johannsen, Trine Holm, Main, Katharina Maria, Jørgensen, Niels, Petersen, Jørgen Holm, Andersson, Anna-Maria +1 more·2014·Clinica Chimica Acta

Abstract

The influence of sex, age, pubertal development and oral contraceptives on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Δ4-androstenedione (Adione), testosterone (T), calculated free testosterone (fT), free androgen index (FAI) and selected ratios in 1798 serum samples from healthy children, adolescents and young adults was evaluated. Samples were analyzed by Turboflow-LC-MS/MS. Sex hormone-binding globulin was analyzed by immunoassay. All steroid metabolite concentrations were positively associated with age and pubertal development in both sexes and generally higher in males than in females except for Adione. The pubertal rise in T in males was more pronounced compared to females, reflecting contribution from the testes. Ratios between steroid metabolites varied and depended on sex and age. All ratios were lower during infancy compared to later in life. Use of oral contraceptives significantly lowered serum concentrations of all steroid metabolites, fT, FAI, the 17-OHP/Adione, the Adione/T and the DHEA/Adione ratios, but not the DHEA/DHEAS ratio. We provide reference ranges for DHEA, DHEAS, 17-OHP, Adione, T, fT, FAI and selected ratios in relation to sex, age and pubertal development. Use of oral contraceptives strongly influences adrenal steroidogenesis and should be considered when diagnosing and monitoring treatment of patients with disorders of sex development.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cca.2014.06.018

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Authors
Søeborg, T., Frederiksen, H., Mouritsen, A., Johannsen, T. H., Main, K. M., Jørgensen, N., Petersen, J. H., Andersson, A.-M., & Juul, A.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Søeborg, Tue
Venue
Clinica Chimica Acta
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-11
Volume
437
Pages
6-13
ISSN
0009-8981 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1980312294
Cited by
81
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1
FWCI
3.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Clinica Chimica Acta (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation (14-2013-4)
  • Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (09-067180)
  • ReproSund consortium (EU InterRegIV (150879, 167158)
  • ReproHigh consortium (EU InterReg IV
  • Danish Ministry of Health, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (271070678)
  • Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
Keywords
dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA sulfate, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, Δ4-androstenedione, testosterone, free testosterone, free androgen index, oral contraceptives, puberty, sex differences, age-related changes, reference values, adrenal steroidogenesis, disorders of sex development, children and adolescents
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Androstenedione, Child, Child, Preschool, Contraceptives, Oral, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Progesterone, Puberty, Sex Factors, Testosterone, Cohort Studies, Biomarkers, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Young Adult

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