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CompletedNCT00205686Updated Jan 6, 2006

Effects of DHEA and Exercise in the Elderly

A Phase 3 interventional study of DHEA and exercise in Healthy Volunteers, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 65 Years to 78 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2006-01-06.

Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
64
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
65 Years to 78 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by tghe adrenal galnds. The secretion of HDEA declines with aging. DHEA is considered a food supplement and it is not regulated by the FDA. The purpose of this research is to evaluate ceratin of the biological effects of a reaplcement dose of DHEA. As you get older, DHEA levels are lower than you were younger. The replamcent dose is the dose of DHEA that will raise DHEA levesl to the levels found in young people. Anotehr purpose is to determine whether DHEA enhances the adaptations to an exercise training program.

Read the detailed description

DHEA declines dramatically with age. Low DHEA levels have been found to correlate with sarcopenia and osteopenia. It is, therefore, postulated that many physiologic changes of aging are secondary to the decline in DHEA. Thus, the objective of the proposed research is to evaluate the effect of DHEA replacement on age-related changes in body composition, muscle function and metabolism, and bone mass in healthy older adults. The specific aims are to evaluate the effects of DHEA replacement (50 mg/d) alone, or in combination with resistance exercise training on: a) lean body mass, intraabdominal fat and thigh muscle volume, and muscle protein synthesis rate b) bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, and hip and biochemical markers of bone turnover and c) insulin sensitivity. It is hypothesized that DHEA administration will have additive or synergistic effects with exercise. Healthy but sedentary subjects , aged 65-78 years old, will be randomized to receive either DHEA, 50 mg/d, or placebo and to participate in either supervised or home exercise training programs. The supervised exercise program will consist of resistance training designed to increase muscle mass, strength, and bone mass, and decrease fat mass. The goal of this research is to provide information on the potential role of DHEA replacement therapy in maintaining the physical health and functional capacity of older people

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy Volunteers

Keywords

  • Aging, dhea, bone density, muscle mass, insulin action
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine is the lead sponsor of 1,765 studies on the registry; 271 are open to participants now.

Of its 324 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 212 (65%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
65 Years to 78 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • 65 to 78 years old men and women

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • hormone therapy, history of hormone-dependent neoplasia, PSA above 2.6 ng/mL, or active serious illness, contraindications to exercise, dementia
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
64 participants

Interventions

  • DrugDHEA
  • Behavioralexercise
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. thigh muscle mass, muscle strength, intadominal fat, bone mineral density, markers of bone turnover, insulin sensitivity,

Secondary outcomes

  1. quality of life, vascular reactivity, levels of hormones

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Washington University School of Medicine
    St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Villareal DT, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Effects of DHEA replacement on bone mineral density and body composition in elderly women and men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2000 Nov;53(5):561-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2000.01131.x. PubMed 11106916 ↗
  • Villareal DT. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on bone mineral density: what implications for therapy? Treat Endocrinol. 2002;1(6):349-57. doi: 10.2165/00024677-200201060-00001. PubMed 15832488 ↗
  • Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.18.2243. PubMed 15536111 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 6, 2006, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00205686
Lead sponsor
Washington University School of Medicine
First posted
Sep 20, 2005
Start date
Apr 2001
Completion
Sep 2005
Last update
Jan 6, 2006

Study contacts

Dennis T Villareal, MD
principal investigator · Washington University School of Medicine
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2005. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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