Individual Urinary 17-Ketosteroids of Healthy Persons Determined by Gas Chromatography: Biochemical and Clinical Considerations

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Abstract
The 6 major individual 17-ketosteroids contained in 24-hr urine specimens from individuals 2—87 yr old were measured by gas chromatography. For both C19O2 and C19O3 compounds the values were very low during infancy. Both gradually increased until the late teens. From then until old age the C19O3 level did not change appreciably, supporting the concept that production of corticosteroids and their reduction to C19O3 ketosteroids was maintained. C19O2 compounds, on the other hand, continued to increase and highest values were reached between the ages of 20 and 30 yr, with a gradual decline thereafter. Higher values for men than women became apparent in the middle teens. Dehydroepiandrosterone was not detected in the urine until after the age of 7 yr. From then on it was present in some persons in gradually increasing quantities. It was found in greatest amount in some subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 yr. In men it varied from none to 12.8 mg/day; in women from none to 3.8 mg. The coefficient of variation between individuals in some decades was as high as 200% and was always higher than for any other 17-ketosteroid or for the sum of all. Variations during consecutive days from the same persons were somewhat less but still considerable. Comparison with previous reports showed all our values to be slightly higher, but usually not significantly so. The differences can be attributed to more complete hydrolysis and extraction with the present method. The E/A ratios were below 1.0 before the age of 20 and increased gradually thereafter. Ratios for men were lower than for women. These findings can be attributed directly to differences in secretion of androgenic precursors. The implications of the various findings are discussed, especially as to their probable relation to age and sex. The great difficulty of obtaining valid control data from small groups of individuals and even with limited periods from the same individual is important.