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Cited by 522Bone health and osteoporosis researchHormonal and reproductive studiesEstrogen and related hormone effects

Relationship of Serum Sex Steroid Levels to Longitudinal Changes in Bone Density in Young Versus Elderly Men

Khosla, S.·2001·Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1210/jc.86.8.3555
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Abstract

Estrogen appears to play an important role in determining bone mineral density in men, but it remains unclear whether estrogen primarily determines peak bone mass or also affects bone loss in elderly men. Thus, we assessed longitudinal rates of change in bone mineral density in young (22-39 yr; n = 88) vs. elderly (60-90 yr; n = 130) men and related these to circulating total and bioavailable estrogen and testosterone levels. In young men bone mineral density increased significantly over 4 yr at the mid-radius and ulna and at the total hip (by 0.32-0.43%/yr), whereas it decreased in the elderly men at the forearm sites (by 0.49-0.66%/yr), but did not change at the total hip. The rate of increase in bone mineral density at the forearm sites in the young men was significantly correlated to serum total and bioavailable estradiol and estrone levels (r = 0.22-0.35), but not with total or bioavailable testosterone levels. In the elderly men the rates of bone loss at the forearm sites were most closely associated with serum bioavailable estradiol levels (r = 0.29-0.33) rather than bioavailable testosterone levels. Moreover, elderly men with bioavailable estradiol levels below the median [40 pmol/liter (11 pg/ml)] had significantly higher rates of bone loss and levels of bone resorption markers than men with bioavailable estradiol levels above 40 pmol/liter. These data thus indicate that estrogen plays a key role both in the acquisition of peak bone mass in young men and in bone loss in elderly men. Moreover, our findings suggest that age-related decreases in bioavailable estradiol levels to below 40 pmol/liter may well be the major cause of bone loss in elderly men. This subset of men is perhaps most likely to benefit from preventive therapy.

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  • In letrozole-treated boys in whom treatment started at the beginning of puberty, IGF-I levels were lower than in placebo-treated controls.

    “Also in letrozole-treated boys in whom treatment started at the beginning of puberty, IGF-I levels were lower than in placebo-treated controls [62].”

    From Aromatase inhibitors in men: effects and therapeutic options (2011) · cites this paper as [62]

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Authors
Khosla, S.
Corresponding author
Khosla, S.
ORCID
Khosla, S.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
2001-08-01
Volume
86
Issue
8
Pages
3555-3561
ISSN
0021-972X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1210/jc.86.8.3555
OpenAlex
W2116271944
Cited by
522
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 29
FWCI
29.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Hologic
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (AR 27065, R01AR027065)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
Keywords
sex steroids, estradiol, testosterone, bone mineral density, bone loss, peak bone mass, men, aging, bioavailable estradiol, bone resorption markers, forearm bones, hip bone, estrogen therapy
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Bone Resorption, Estradiol, Estrone, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Radius, Spine, Testosterone, Ulna, Bone Density, Body Mass Index

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