Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and bone resorption rates as reflected by serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen: a study in healthy men.
Sex steroid hormones contribute to the physiological regulation of bone turnover in males. To address this issue, we investigated serum estradiol (E2), total testosterone (T), and DHEAS concentrations, along with serum levels of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (sCTx), in a sample of 76 healthy men aged 23 to 87. The concentration of sCTx declined with age. Both T and DHEAS, at variance with E2, showed a significant age-related decline. T, DHEAS and sCTx significantly (p<0.01) correlated with each other. DHEAS and T were significantly associated after correcting for age (r=0.35, p=0.002) or body mass index (r=0.65, p<0.0001). DHEAS, but not T, significantly correlated with sCTx after correcting for age (r=0.26, p=0.026, and r=0.20, p=0.08, respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that only DHEAS (but not T or E2) was a significant independent predictor of sCTx (p=0.0001). Our results show that adrenal androgens play a crucial role in regulating bone resorption in aging men.
Carnevale
V
V
Department of Internal Medicine, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy. venz.carnevale@libero.it
Scillitani
A
A
Vecci
E
E
D'Erasmo
E
E
Romagnoli
E
E
Paglia
F
F
Pepe
J
J
Baldini
V
V
Santori
C
C
De Geronimo
S
S
Minisola
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D024042:Collagen Type I; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D024042:Collagen Type I; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D003094:Collagen