Changes in Urinary Neutral 17-Ketosteroid Excretion Patterns with Age in Normal Subjects and Changes in Patients with Peptic Ulcer

(1) The average daily excretion values in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), androsterone (A) and 11-deoxygenated 17-KS were very lower in children and the levels proved to become higher at onset of puberty, to reach the maximum in young adults and then to decrease gradually by aging. But the value of 11-oxygenated 17-KS, which were metabolized mainly from adrenal steroids, was not so much decreased with advancing age after young adulthood. The endogenous secretion of androgens, which contributes to the
accelerating of protein anabolic process in the body, appeared to be depressed at the senile stage.
(2) In patients with gastric ulcer of simple or multiple type, average daily excretion value of DHA, A and A+etiocholanolone (E) was decreased accompanying with the diminished value of A/E ratio and the abnormal findings were normalized after wound healing.In spite of decreased A excretion value, the elevation of DHA (%) was recognized in the group of reftactory ulcer type. A characteristic picture in patients with duodenal ulcer was found in the increase in total 17-OHCS with decreased DHA and A excretion values. These data indicate that a decrease in endogenous androgen secretion
may play an important part in the peptic ulcer formation.