Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism
<i>Introduction:</i> There is increasing evidence that steroid hormone levels and, especially, androgen levels are elevated in autism. An overactivity of 17, 20-lyase with a higher production of the testosterone precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione/androstenediol...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/22/12324 |
| _version_ | 1797510014983733248 |
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| author | Benedikt A. Gasser Samuel F. Buerki Johann Kurz Markus G. Mohaupt |
| author_facet | Benedikt A. Gasser Samuel F. Buerki Johann Kurz Markus G. Mohaupt |
| author_sort | Benedikt A. Gasser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Introduction:</i> There is increasing evidence that steroid hormone levels and, especially, androgen levels are elevated in autism. An overactivity of 17, 20-lyase with a higher production of the testosterone precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione/androstenediol seems especially present in autism. <i>Methods:</i> An encompassing literature analysis was performed, searching for altered androgens in children with autism and using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Included were all studies published before 31 March 2021 found using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and TRIP. Eight studies with boys and three studies with girls where steroid hormone measurements were performed from either plasma, urine, or saliva were found and analyzed. Analyses were performed for DHEA(-S/-C), androstenedione/androstenediol, and testosterone. Effect sizes were calculated for each parameter between mean concentrations for children with autism versus healthy controls. <i>Results:</i> Higher levels of androgens in autism were detected, with the majority of calculated effect sizes being larger than one. <i>Conclusions:</i> We found higher levels of the main testosterone precursors DHEA, androstenedione, and androstenediol, likely causing an additionally higher level of testosterone, and an increased 17, 20-lyase activity is therefore implied. Medications already used in PCOS such as metformin might be considered to treat hyperandrogenism in autism following further research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:25:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bad54115726d40908c124cd0bfd85872 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:25:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-bad54115726d40908c124cd0bfd858722023-11-22T23:40:42ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-11-0122221232410.3390/ijms222212324Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with AutismBenedikt A. Gasser0Samuel F. Buerki1Johann Kurz2Markus G. Mohaupt3Departement für Sport, Bewegung und Gesundheit, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandLindenhofspital Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine, 3001 Bern, SwitzerlandInterscience Research Association, 8430 Leibnitz, AustriaLindenhofspital Teaching Hospital Internal Medicine, 3001 Bern, Switzerland<i>Introduction:</i> There is increasing evidence that steroid hormone levels and, especially, androgen levels are elevated in autism. An overactivity of 17, 20-lyase with a higher production of the testosterone precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione/androstenediol seems especially present in autism. <i>Methods:</i> An encompassing literature analysis was performed, searching for altered androgens in children with autism and using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Included were all studies published before 31 March 2021 found using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and TRIP. Eight studies with boys and three studies with girls where steroid hormone measurements were performed from either plasma, urine, or saliva were found and analyzed. Analyses were performed for DHEA(-S/-C), androstenedione/androstenediol, and testosterone. Effect sizes were calculated for each parameter between mean concentrations for children with autism versus healthy controls. <i>Results:</i> Higher levels of androgens in autism were detected, with the majority of calculated effect sizes being larger than one. <i>Conclusions:</i> We found higher levels of the main testosterone precursors DHEA, androstenedione, and androstenediol, likely causing an additionally higher level of testosterone, and an increased 17, 20-lyase activity is therefore implied. Medications already used in PCOS such as metformin might be considered to treat hyperandrogenism in autism following further research.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/22/12324extreme male brain theory of autismandrogenssteroid hormones |
| spellingShingle | Benedikt A. Gasser Samuel F. Buerki Johann Kurz Markus G. Mohaupt Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism International Journal of Molecular Sciences extreme male brain theory of autism androgens steroid hormones |
| title | Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism |
| title_full | Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism |
| title_fullStr | Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism |
| title_short | Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism |
| title_sort | hyperandrogenism increased 17 20 lyase activity a metanalysis and systematic review of altered androgens in boys and girls with autism |
| topic | extreme male brain theory of autism androgens steroid hormones |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/22/12324 |
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