Abstract
PurposeThe etiology of age-related bone loss is less clear in men. This study is aimed to observe the variations of endogenous sex hormone concentrations with increasing of age in men, and investigate their relations to bone mass, marrow adiposity, and muscle adiposity.MethodsA total of 199 community-dwelling Chinese men (aged 41 to 82 years) were included and measured of serum total estradiol, total testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vertebral trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) was measured by quantitative computed tomography for all participants, and vertebral marrow fat content and erector muscle fat content were quantified by Chemistry-shift-encoding magnetic resonance imaging in 62 participants.ResultsIn this population, FSH concentration increased (p < 0.001) gradually with aging. Lower vBMD was independently associated with higher FSH concentration (β = -0.216, p < 0.001), but not with total estradiol or total testosterone. For each standard deviation increase in FSH there was a 50% higher risk of an individual having osteopenia or osteoporosis (vBMD < 120 mg/cm3). Marrow fat content and erector muscle fat content were greater in osteopenic and osteoporotic men, but there were no associations with sex hormones concentrations.ConclusionIn summary, FSH but not total estradiol or total testosterone is related to vertebral trabecular vBMD in middle-aged and older Chinese men. Neither marrow adiposity nor muscle adiposity is associated with sex hormones.
Highlights
Men do not experience a phase of accelerated bone loss similar to the menopause in women, their bone health status declines gradually with age [1]
Obese participants had significantly higher total testosterone concentrations (p = 0.004), but there were no differences in volumetric BMD (vBMD) or fat content measurements
We found that high concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but not total testosterone or estradiol, was a risk factor for lower vBMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis
Summary
Men do not experience a phase of accelerated bone loss similar to the menopause in women, their bone health status declines gradually with age [1]. Testosterone has been suggested to play an indirect role in male skeletal health with aging by allowing for relative maintenance of balance and muscle strength in men compared to women [14]. SHBG levels in men increase with age and influence the amount of hormone that is available to enter cells, and are predictive of vertebral fracture [15, 16] and/or lower bone density [17]
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