Author: Taylor, Marcus K.

Source: Military Medicine, Volume 178, Number 1, January 2013 , pp. 100-106(7)

Publisher: AMSUS - Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Abstract:

ABSTRACT

Evidence links dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) to crucial military health issues, including operational stress, resilience, and traumatic brain injury. This study evaluated the anabolic, neuroprotective, and neuroexcitatory properties of DHEA(S) in healthy military men. A salivary sample was obtained from 42 men and assayed for DHEA(S), testosterone, nerve growth factor (NGF; which supports nerve cell proliferation), and salivary alpha amylase (sAA; a proxy of sympathetic nervous system function). Separate regression analyses were conducted with DHEA and DHEAS as independent variables, and testosterone, NGF, and sAA as dependent variables, respectively. The models explained 23.4% of variance in testosterone (p < 0.01), 17.2% of variance in NGF (p < 0.01), and 7.4% of variance in sAA (p = 0.09). Standardized beta coefficients revealed that DHEA independently influenced testosterone (β = 0.40, p < 0.01), whereas DHEAS independently influenced NGF (β = 0.48, p < 0.01) and sAA (β = 0.36, p < 0.05). DHEA demonstrated anabolic properties, whereas DHEAS demonstrated neuroprotective and neuroexcitatory properties in military men. This area of study has broad implications for stress inoculation, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, and regenerative medicine in military personnel.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00296

Affiliations: 1: <aff id="aff1">Behavioral Sciences Lab, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Epidemiology, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA 92106.

Publication date: 2013-01-01

More about this publication?

• Military Medicine is the Association's official monthly journal. The objective of the Journal is to promote awareness of Federal medicine by providing a forum for responsible discussion of common ideas and problems relevant to Federal healthcare. Its mission is: To increase healthcare education by providing scientific and other information to its readers; to facilitate communication; and to offer a prestige publication for members' writings.
  
  Military Medicine's 5-year Impact Factor: 1.061
  
  
• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Submit a Paper
• Subscribe to this Title
• Membership Information
• Information for Advertisers
• Terms & Conditions
• Reviewer Information
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Medicine (General) ,  Political Science
• By this author: Taylor, Marcus K.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers