Testosterone high in SIDS: J Pediatr. 2005 Nov;147(5):586-591

James Michael Howard · medicine forum addict Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 78

Re: J Pediatr. 2005 Nov;147(5):586-591 (abstract below)
Testosterone High in SIDS

It is my hypothesis from 1985 that SIDS results from insufficient DHEA
during sleep to maintain brainstem function. This is subordinate to my
hypothesis that DHEA is necessary for all tissue function. Subsequent to
initiation of my work, I realized that morbidity and mortality, which I
attribute to low DHEA, are increasing within our population. It became
clear to me that the "secular trend," the increase in size and earlier
puberty in children, may be explained by an increase in the percentage of
individuals of higher testosterone within the population with time.
Testosterone is increasing within our population.

I decided that testosterone may be interferring with availability of DHEA;
later I found the mechanism. Therefore, I was able to see that the
increase in diseases and mortality within our population may be due to the
increase in testosterone. This may explain why such things as obesity,
diabetes, etc. are increasing. This caused me to examine my hypothesis
regarding SIDS (http://www.anthropogeny.com/SIDS.htm ). I decided that the
epidemiology of SIDS may be explained by higher levels of testosterone
within the populations which exhibit increased SIDS. This is derived from
reduced availability of DHEA as a result of testosterone.

I was pleased to read the report of Emery, et al. I suggest this report
supports my explanation of SIDS.

James Michael Howard
Fayetteville, Arkansas

J Pediatr. 2005 Nov;147(5):586-591.

Serum Testosterone and Estradiol in Sudden Infant Death.

Emery MJ, Krous HF, Nadeau-Manning JM, Marck BT, Matsumoto AM.

From the Departments of Physiology & Biophysics, Medicine (Pulmonary and
Critical Care Medicine), and Pediatrics (Neonatology), University of Miami
School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Departments of Pathology and
Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of San Diego and University of California
San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California; Department of Medicine
(Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine), University of Washington School of
Medicine and GRECC, Veteran's Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System,
Seattle, Washington.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that among infants who die unexpectedly,
testosterone and/or estradiol levels are elevated in those diagnosed with
SIDS versus those with known causes of death (controls). STUDY DESIGN:
Postmortem blood was collected and coded from infant autopsies, and serum
was prepared and frozen until assayed for total testosterone and estradiol
by fluoroimmunoassay. Subject information was then collected from the
medical examiner's report. RESULTS: Testosterone, but not estradiol, was
significantly higher in 127 SIDS cases versus 42 controls for both males
(4.8 +/- 0.4 vs 2.2 +/- 0.4 nmol, respectively; P < .005) and females (2.4
+/- 0.2 vs 1.6 +/- 0.2 nmol, respectively; P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Higher
testosterone levels in infant victims of unexpected, unexplained death may
indicate a role for testosterone or related steroids in SIDS. Further
research is needed to understand the potential utility of testosterone as
an indicator of SIDS risk.

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