Editing Dehydroepiandrosterone (section)

===Metabolism===
DHEA is transformed into DHEA-S by [[sulfation]] at the C3β position via the [[sulfotransferase]] [[enzyme]]s [[SULT2A1]] and to a lesser extent [[SULT1E1]].<ref name="pmid17945481" /><ref name="pmid26213785">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mueller JW, Gilligan LC, Idkowiak J, Arlt W, Foster PA | title = The Regulation of Steroid Action by Sulfation and Desulfation | journal = Endocr Rev | volume = 36 | issue = 5 | pages = 526–63 | date = October 2015 | pmid = 26213785 | pmc = 4591525 | doi = 10.1210/er.2015-1036 }}</ref><ref name="Lash2005">{{cite book | first = Lawrence H | last = Lash | name-list-style = vanc |title=Drug Metabolism and Transport: Molecular Methods and Mechanisms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-sK8NM_9UVsC&pg=PA353|year=2005|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-59259-832-8|pages=353–}}</ref> This occurs naturally in the adrenal cortex and during [[first-pass metabolism]] in the [[liver]] and [[intestines]] when [[exogenous]] DHEA is administered orally.<ref name="pmid26213785" /> Levels of DHEA-S in circulation are approximately 250 to 300 times those of DHEA.<ref name="Weizman2008">{{cite book | first = Abraham | last = Weizman | name-list-style = vanc |title=Neuroactive Steroids in Brain Function, Behavior and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Novel Strategies for Research and Treatment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uABKkFdPjhkC&pg=PA229|date=1 February 2008|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4020-6854-6|pages=229–}}</ref> DHEA-S in turn can be converted back into DHEA in peripheral tissues via [[steroid sulfatase]] (STS).<ref name="Morfin2003">{{cite book | first = Robert | last = Morfin | name-list-style = vanc |title=DHEA and the Brain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZp62ctguF0C&pg=PA28|date=2 September 2003|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-0-203-30121-0|pages=28–}}</ref><ref name="Karasek2006">{{cite book | first = Michał | last = Karasek | name-list-style = vanc |title=Aging and Age-related Diseases: The Basics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A_PN9oxKpP0C&pg=PA66|year=2006|publisher=Nova Publishers|isbn=978-1-59454-426-2|pages=66–}}</ref>

The [[terminal half-life]] of DHEA is short at only 15 to 30&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="WhitePorterfield2013">{{cite book | first1 = Bruce Alan | last1 = White | first2 =Susan P. | last2 = Porterfield | name-list-style = vanc | title=Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology, Mosby Physiology Monograph Series (with Student Consult Online Access),4: Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMb4uoiXzzcC&pg=PA164|year=2013|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-323-08704-9|pages=164–}}</ref> In contrast, the terminal half-life of DHEA-S is far longer, at 7 to 10&nbsp;hours.<ref name="WhitePorterfield2013" /> As DHEA-S can be converted back into DHEA, it serves as a circulating reservoir for DHEA, thereby extending the [[duration of action|duration]] of DHEA.<ref name="KalimiRegelson2000">{{cite book | first1 = Mohammed Y. | last1 = Kalimi | first2 = William | last2 = Regelson | name-list-style = vanc | title = Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): Biochemical, Physiological and Clinical Aspects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cn0tcGjTD8YC&pg=PA41|year=2000|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-016111-3|pages=41–}}</ref><ref name="Weizman2008" />

[[Metabolite]]s of DHEA include DHEA-S, [[7α-hydroxy-DHEA]], [[7β-hydroxy-DHEA]], [[7-keto-DHEA]], [[7α-hydroxyepiandrosterone]], and [[7β-hydroxyepiandrosterone]], as well as [[androstenediol]] and [[androstenedione]].<ref name="pmid16524719">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mo Q, Lu SF, Simon NG | title = Dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites: differential effects on androgen receptor trafficking and transcriptional activity | journal = The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | volume = 99 | issue = 1 | pages = 50–8 | date = April 2006 | pmid = 16524719 | doi = 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2005.11.011 | s2cid = 30489004 }}</ref>

====Pregnancy====
During pregnancy, DHEA-S is [[metabolism|metabolized]] into the sulfates of [[16α-hydroxy-DHEA]] and [[15α-hydroxy-DHEA]] in the [[fetus|fetal]] [[liver]] as [[metabolic intermediate|intermediate]]s in the production of the estrogens [[estriol]] and [[estetrol]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zbella |first1=E. A. |last2=Ilekis |first2=J. |last3=Scommegna |first3=A. |last4=Benveniste |first4=R. |title=Competitive studies with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and 16 alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in cultured human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells: effect on estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, and estriol secretion |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2942557/ |journal=The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |year=1986 |volume=63 |issue=3 |pages=751–757 |doi=10.1210/jcem-63-3-751 |issn=0021-972X |pmid=2942557}}</ref>