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Testosterone's Role in Male Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis may not be as common in men as it is in women, but as more
men live into their 80s,
they are increasingly likely to develop the disease, according to
recent studies. Two studies presented
at the 21st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral
Research focused on the
beneficial effects of the male hormone testosterone on osteoporosis in
men.
The first study found declining levels of testosterone affect bone
mineral density in aging men.
As much as 50 percent of men over age 65 have testosterone levels
below those of young adults. In this
study, researchers from the University of Connecticut Health Center found
67 men between the ages
of 65 and 87 with levels less than the normal limits for adult men. Researchers
treated some of them
with a testosterone patch, which the men wore for one year. Men who wore
the patch experienced
no loss in bone density compared with men who didn't wear the patch, who
lost approximately four
percent. Men wearing the patch also gained more muscle and lost more body
fat compared with the
other group.
In the second study, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh speculated
genes play a role in
osteoporosis because men with a family history are likely to develop the
disease. In a study involving
more than 300 men ages 51 to 84, they discovered men with a minor but common
gene grouping
produce more testosterone and have stronger, larger bones. Men with the
gene had 20 percent higher
testosterone than men without it. Their bones were larger, putting them
at less risk for the disease.
Both studies suggest testosterone is important for forming strong bones
and therefore
decreases a man's risk for osteoporosis.
Source: University of Pittsburgh and American Society
for Bone and Mineral Research
