Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEAS) is the sulfated ester of the steroid hormone Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), representing the most abundant circulating steroid in the human body. Primarily synthesized and secreted by the adrenal cortex, DHEAS functions as a critical prohormone, serving as a precursor for the synthesis of more potent androgens and estrogens in peripheral tissues. Its concentration is often used clinically as a reliable biomarker of adrenal function.
Origin
DHEA was first isolated and characterized in the 1930s, with the sulfate form later recognized as the major circulating reservoir due to its increased water solubility and longer half-life. The etymology stems from its chemical structure: dehydro indicating the removal of hydrogen, epiandrosterone relating to its androgenic structure, and sulfate denoting the chemical modification that facilitates circulation.
Mechanism
DHEAS acts as a circulating reserve; its mechanism of action is indirect, as it is largely biologically inert until converted back to DHEA by the enzyme steroid sulfatase, and subsequently metabolized. In target tissues, DHEA can be converted into androstenedione, and further into testosterone or estradiol, through a series of enzymatic steps. This peripheral conversion allows for localized hormone action independent of gonadal or direct adrenal control.
Assessing the HPA axis markers, specifically the Cortisol-to-DHEA-S ratio, provides the clearest biochemical blueprint for reclaiming systemic vitality and metabolic function.
Optimal response to peptide-enhanced TRT in women is predicted by a personalized assessment of sex hormones, SHBG, DHEA-S, IGF-1, metabolic markers, and genetic variations.
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