title: Low testosterone levels are associated with poor peripheral bone mineral density and quantitative bone ultrasound at phalanges and calcaneus in healthy elderly men.
abstract: Variations in sex hormones influence bone health in men. Aging in men is associated with a decrease in testosterone (T) levels. We examined the relationship between T levels and changes in bone health status as measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the phalanges and the os calcis and by peripheral bone mineral density (pBMD) at the phalanges in healthy elderly Spanish men. We examined 162 men aged 65-88 years and assessed total serum T concentrations. Total serum T < 300 ng/dL was used as the threshold for biochemical T deficiency. The sample was divided into low (n = 66) or normal (n = 96) T levels; both groups were matched for age, weight, height, and body mass index (p > .05 for all the comparisons). All measured bone parameters were higher in the normal serum T group (p < .05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that serum T was an independent predictor of both QUS at the calcaneus and phalangeal pBMD. Our data indicate that T is an independent determinant of QUS at the os calcis and pBMD at the phalanges in elderly Spanish men.
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain.
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Moran
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain.
authors: Raul Roncero
authors: RR
authors: Martin
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Pedrera-Canal
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Alonso-Terron
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain.
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Rodriguez-Velasco
authors: Metabolic Bone Diseases Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Avd., Caceres, Spain jpedrera@unex.es.
authors: Juan D
authors: JD
authors: Pedrera-Zamorano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: bone ultrasound; men; peripheral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; testosterone