title: Effect of testosterone therapy on lumbar spine and hip mineral density in elderly men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of testosterone therapy on bone mineral density in healthy elderly men who had low levels of total testosterone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight men over 60 years old with decreased testosterone levels (< or =320 ng/dL) comprised the study. Twenty-five out of 48 received intramuscular injections of testosterone enanthate every three weeks during 12 months; the remaining 23 participants formed the control group. All participants had measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in both lumbar spine and hip before and at the end of the study as well as testosterone and 17-beta estradiol levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testosterone treated group exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) increment (from 1.198 +/- 0.153 to 1.240 +/- 0.141 g/cm(2)) in lumbar BMD in parallel with a significant (p < 0.001) increment (from 301 +/- 32 to 471 +/- 107 ng/dL) in testosterone concentrations, whereas no significant change occurred in femoral neck BMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testosterone therapy elicited a positive effect only in lumbar BMD in elderly men with diminished testosterone serum levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Research Unit and Department of Radiology, National Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico. lbasurtoa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Basurto
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Columba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saucedo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galván
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone