Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate replacement improves the human plasma fatty acid profile in plasma of obese women

► To analyze the effect of a replacement therapy with DHEA-S on plasma fatty acids since it has not been studied yet in humans. ► DHEA-S treatment produced significant changes in plasma fatty acids in post- and premenopausal obese women. ► DHEA-S treatment decreased total saturated fatty acids and increased n - 3 and n - 6 PUFA. ► D6-desaturase was significantly decreased in postmenopausal, whereas D5-desaturase was increased in premenopausal women. ► DHEA-S treatment modifies plasma FA composition towards a potentially better metabolic profile in obese women.