Antioxidant status and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in aging: Evidence from MIDUS 3 biomarkers cohort

Background Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has been consistently linked to cardiovascular and skeletal health; however, the relationship between circulating antioxidant concentrations, including vitamins, and DHEAS levels in older adults has been insufficiently examined. Aim To assess associations between serum DHEAS and five antioxidants: β-cryptoxanthin, total lycopene, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and retinol. Methods Data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS3) Biomarker Project (2017–2022) were analyzed in a cross-sectional design. Analyses evaluated associations between DHEAS, antioxidant levels, and demographic and metabolic characteristics, including age, sex, smoking history, creatinine, HbA1c, total cholesterol, body mass index, dietary quality, alcohol intake, physical activity, and sleep quality. Multivariable linear regression models adjusting for all antioxidants and potential confounders were conducted following square-root transformation of DHEAS. Summary The analytical sample comprised 747 participants (55.8% female) with a mean age of 66.0 years (SD = 9.64). In adjusted models, higher α-tocopherol concentrations were associated with lower DHEAS levels (β = −0.09; 95% CI: [−0.172 to −0.009], P < 0.031) whereas retinol demonstrated a positive association with DHEAS (β = 0.081; 95% CI: [0.009–0.154], P = 0.029). None of the other antioxidants had a significant association with serum DHEAS. Increasing age, female sex, and poorer sleep quality were significantly associated with lower DHEAS concentrations. In conclusion, in older adults, serum retinol levels are positively associated with DHEAS concentrations, whereas α-tocopherol shows an inverse association. Conversely, no significant associations were observed between serum DHEAS levels and β-cryptoxanthin, total lycopene, or γ-tocopherol.