The excretion rates and precursors of the 3-sulfate and glucuronide conjugates of 16 beta-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone (16 beta-OH DHEA) were measured in normotensive controls and in patients with normal and low renin essential hypertension. The hypertensive subjects, and to the greatest degree those of the low renin subgroup, excreted increased amounts of 16 beta-OH DHEA sulfate and glucuronide and lesser amounts of DHEA sulfate and glucuronide than the controls. The major precursor of the urinary 16 beta-OH DHEA sulfate in the hypertensives was circulating DHEA sulfate, whereas the major precursors of 16 beta-OH DHEA glucuronide were DHEA, DHEA sulfate and 17-OH pregnenolone, as determined from their specific activities. Furthermore, both subgroups of hypertensives had similarly elevated DHEA and DHEA sulfate secretory rates compared to the controls. The stimulus to this increased peripheral conversion of circulating 17-OH pregnenolone, DHEA and DHEA sulfate into 16 beta-OH DHEA conjugates in essential hypertension, especially of the low renin type, is unknown.