[ 7 ]; although, in the latter case the difference between patients and controls did not reach statistical significance.
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The sentences
Given that, with the exception of the male gonads, most steroids in both sexes are synthesized either directly in the adrenal glands or from adrenal precursors in other peripheral tissues or directly in peripheral tissues [ 36 ], these results suggest an overall trend toward impaired adrenal activity in male patients with schizophrenia.
Our current results show a consistent, highly significant trend to increased conversion of 17-deoxy-steroids to the corresponding androstanes in patients compared to controls.
While there is a significant trend towards lower levels of pregnanes (C21 steroids), as of 54 pregnanes, 31 levels are lower in patients, 20 levels are not significantly different, and 3 levels are higher compared to controls ( p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney test), for androstanes (C19 steroids), there is no significant trend, as of the 31