High levels of androsterone in males correlate with higher overall 5-AR activity as well as DHEA..
“Androsterone: A DHEA metabolite derived from androstenedione via the activity of 5AR followed by 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD), and therefore useful for monitoring 5AR. If androsterone is high in relation to etiocholanolone, 5AR activity may be elevated, resulting in increased conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT).”
“5α-DHT is ~3 times more powerful than testosterone and unlike testosterone, cannot be aromatized to estradiol. Thus, excess 5AR is associated with male pattern baldness. Excessive DHEA supplementation (>50 mg/day in males) is a possible cause of high androsterone levels. However, if androsterone is low in relation to etiocholanolone in men, then 5AR activity may be low as well, resulting in insufficient production of 3β-adiol (thus increasing prostate cancer risk) and leaving more testosterone to be aromatized to estradiol.”
The Reference Range for androsterone is 2000 to 5000μg/24 hr in men.
“In men, as noted above, DHEA is a 5AR agonist, thus promoting conversion of testosterone to DHT, and has also been shown to exert anti-atherogenic effects; higher serum levels of DHEA-S correlate inversely with carotid artery intima-media thickness, plaque and blood flow volume.94”
The Reference Range for DHEA is 100 – 2000 μg/24hr.
“Androsterone: A DHEA metabolite derived from androstenedione via the activity of 5AR followed by 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD), and therefore useful for monitoring 5AR. If androsterone is high in relation to etiocholanolone, 5AR activity may be elevated, resulting in increased conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT).”
“5α-DHT is ~3 times more powerful than testosterone and unlike testosterone, cannot be aromatized to estradiol. Thus, excess 5AR is associated with male pattern baldness. Excessive DHEA supplementation (>50 mg/day in males) is a possible cause of high androsterone levels. However, if androsterone is low in relation to etiocholanolone in men, then 5AR activity may be low as well, resulting in insufficient production of 3β-adiol (thus increasing prostate cancer risk) and leaving more testosterone to be aromatized to estradiol.”
The Reference Range for androsterone is 2000 to 5000μg/24 hr in men.
“In men, as noted above, DHEA is a 5AR agonist, thus promoting conversion of testosterone to DHT, and has also been shown to exert anti-atherogenic effects; higher serum levels of DHEA-S correlate inversely with carotid artery intima-media thickness, plaque and blood flow volume.94”
The Reference Range for DHEA is 100 – 2000 μg/24hr.
