title: Bone turnover markers and sex hormones in men with idiopathic osteoporosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In contrast to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, osteoporosis in men has received much less attention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined various biochemical parameters of bone metabolism and sex hormones in 31 men with idiopathic osteoporosis and 35 age matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the men with osteoporosis, a significantly increased urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline (5.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.2 nmol mmol-1 creatinine; P = 0.033) in addition to increased serum levels of the c-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (2677 +/- 230 vs. 2058 +/- 153 pmol; P = 0.037) were found. While parameters of bone formation were not significantly different in the patients and controls, serum bone sialoprotein levels were significantly decreased in the patients (3.7 +/- 0.8 vs. 12.4 +/- 4.0 ng mL-1; P = 0.021). Moreover, in men with idiopathic osteoporosis, lower levels of estradiol (91.3 +/- 5.8 vs. 114.6 +/- 7.8 pmol L-1; P = 0.044), higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (31.5 +/- 3.1 vs. 24.2 +/- 1.4 nmol L-1; P = 0.034) and a decreased free androgen index (42.6 +/- 5.2 vs. 56.4 +/- 5.9; P = 0.016) were seen. Serum estradiol levels correlated negatively with several parameters of bone resorption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In men with idiopathic osteoporosis, bone resorption is increased and exceeds bone formation. The excessive bone resorption seen in idiopathic male osteoporosis may be due to decreased estradiol levels and low levels of bioavailable testosterone.
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. peter.pietschmann@akhwien.ac.at
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kudlacek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grisar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spitzauer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Woloszczuk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willvonseder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peterlik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000652:urine; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase