Interní Med. 2012; 14(6-7): 257-260

Aging men and steroid hormones. 2. Adrenopause

prof.MUDr.RNDr.Luboslav Stárka, DrSc.

Endokrinologický ústav, Praha

In the course of aging the hormonal regulation originating in the axis hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals is changed. The levels of dehydroepiandrosterone

(DHEA) decrease markedly, whereas cortisol secretion has tendency to increase. In such way the ratio cortisol/DHEA

increases followed by a shift from anabolism to catabolism, from support of immunity processes to their partial inhibition and to the

change of neurosteroid activity in the brain. Damped secretion activity is recorded also in adrenal z. glomerulosa and in the course of

aging the sensitivity of aldosterone secretion to various challenges is changed. Deficit of DHEA in some limited cases can be ameliorated

by supplementation with DHEA; the consequences of higher aldosterone secretion can be corrected by antimineralo-corticoid drugs as

spirolactone, ACE-inhibitors or sartanes. Selectively acting anti-mineralocorticoid is not for disposition until now.

Keywords: aging, cortisol, aldosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, civilisation diseases

Published: July 31, 2012  Show citation