The identification and simultaneous quantification of 7-hydroxylated metabolites of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 3β,17β-androstenediol, and testosterone in human serum using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The steroids were age and sex dependent, but independent of the menstrual cycle. The ratio of the 7α-hydroxy-metabolites to their parent steroids were age dependent, exhibiting an increasing trend (p < 0.0001, ANOVA) from pregnenolone (5%) to AD (20%). The ratio of 7β- to 7α-metabolites ranged from 0.6 to 1. These results are consistent with models suggesting 7α-hydroxylation of the parent steroid, conversion to a 7-oxo-steroid and finally to the 7β-hydroxylated-metabolite. Partial correlations suggested that 7-hydroxylation might reduce the concentration of circulating androgens. Despite the three times lower concentration of AD-metabolites, their antiglucocorticoid, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective effects may be comparable to that of DHEA based on their reported greater biological activity.