[Relationship between sex steroids and bone density in elderly men].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between serum estradiol level (ESL) and testosterone serum level (TSL) with bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly men.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study including 127 healthy men aged 60 years and over. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured. ESL, TSL and sex hormone binding globulin were estimated by radioimmunoassay. Free testosterone level (FTL) was calculated.


RESULTS
The ESL and BMD correlation at the spine was r = 0.288, (p < 0.01) and at the femoral neck was r = 0.224, (p < 0.01). These correlations remained significant after adjustment for BMI and age. By contrast, no correlation was found between TSL and BMD. However FTL were associated with BMD at the spine (r = 0.288, p < 0.01) and at the femoral neck (r = 0.190, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
ESL and FTL are associated with BMD in elderly men. This effect may be partially mediated by the peripheral conversion of testosterone into estradiol.
Basurto
Lourdes
L
Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Endocrinas, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Departamento de Radiología e Imagen, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México.
Saucedo
Renata
R
Galván
Rosa
R
Vargas
Columba
C
Córdova
Nydia
N
Campos
Sandra
S
Vega
Sara
S
Moreno
Erika
E
Avelar
Francisco
F
Zárate
Arturo
A
D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol