Age-related changes in 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione concentration in normal and osteoporotic women.

The secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate is known to decline gradually with advancing age. Furthermore DHEA is known to be significantly lower in osteoporotic subjects than in normals. Recently 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OHA) has been proposed as an important indicator of the adrenal source of hormone excess in different hyperandrogenic states. In the present study we measured 11-OHA in 224 normal women aged 20-79 yr and 130 osteoporotic women aged 40-79 yr. RIA of 11-OHA was performed with highly specific antiserum raised in rabbits. The mean 11-OHA serum concentration was 2.20 +/- 0.90 ng/ml in normal women and 1.75 +/- 0.58 ng/ml in osteoporotic women. In contrast to DHEA there was no age-related decrease in 11-OHA serum concentrations in normal and osteoporotic women. Osteoporotic subjects showed statistically significantly lower 11-OHA serum concentrations than normal women. Therefore low serum 11-OHA might represent a further risk factor for osteoporosis.