This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Danenberg, H. D. Articles by Friedman, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Danenberg, H. D. Articles by Friedman, G.

Dehydroepiandrosterone Treatment Is Not Beneficial to the Immune Response to Influenza in Elderly Subjects¹

Department of Medicine (H.D.D., A.B-Y., G.F.), Geriatric Unit, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem; Department of Virology (Z.Z-R.), Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism (D.J.G.), Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem, Jerusalem, Israel

Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: H. D. Danenberg, Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem, Jerusalem POB 12000, Israel 91120.

Background. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a native steroid with an immunomodulating activity that was suggested to counterregulate some phenomena of immunosenescence. Recently, it was shown to reverse the age-associated decline of immune response against influenza vaccine in aged mice. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of DHEA on the immunization of elderly volunteers against influenza.

Methods. Seventy-one elderly volunteers age 61–89 yr were enrolled in a prospective randomized, double-blind study to receive either DHEA (50 mg qd p.o. for four consecutive days starting two days before immunization) or placebo. Antibody response to the vaccine was measured before and 28 days after vaccination.

Results. DHEA treatment significantly increased serum DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S). No enhancement in established immunity was observed. A significant decrease in attainment of protective antibody titer (1:40 or higher) against the A/Texas strain in subjects with nonprotective baseline antibody titer was recorded following DHEA treatment compared with placebo (52% vs. 84%, P < 0.05). Baseline DHEA-S serum levels were inversely related to attainment of immunization in DHEA-treated subjects. Influenza-like morbidity during the winter was low in the study group with no difference between the DHEA and placebo groups.

Conclusions. Although highly effective in aged rodents, a short course of DHEA treatment did not improve the age-related declined response to immunization against influenza in human subjects. Higher baseline DHEA-S levels are not predictive of better immunization against influenza in the elderly.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Corsini, L. Vismara, L. Lucchi, B. Viviani, S. Govoni, C. L. Galli, M. Marinovich, and M. Racchi High interleukin-10 production is associated with low antibody response to influenza vaccination in the elderly J. Leukoc. Biol., August 1, 2006; 80(2): 376 - 382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Kaufman and A. Vermeulen The Decline of Androgen Levels in Elderly Men and Its Clinical and Therapeutic Implications Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2005; 26(6): 833 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Kohut, J. R. Thompson, J. Campbell, G. A. Brown, M. D. Vukovich, D. A. Jackson, and D. S. King Ingestion of a Dietary Supplement Containing Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Androstenedione Has Minimal Effect on Immune Function in Middle-Aged Men J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2003; 22(5): 363 - 371. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Padgett, R. C. MacCallum, R. M. Loria, and J. F. Sheridan Androstenediol-Induced Restoration of Responsiveness to Influenza Vaccination in Mice J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., September 1, 2000; 55(9): 418B - 424. [Abstract] [Full Text]