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Osteoporosis International
Published in: Osteoporosis International 8/2010

01-08-2010 | Original Article

Gonadal sex steroid status and bone health in middle-aged and elderly European men

Authors: D. Vanderschueren, S. R. Pye, K. Venken, H. Borghs, J. Gaytant, I. T. Huhtaniemi, J. E. Adams, K. A. Ward, G. Bartfai, F. F. Casanueva, J. D. Finn, G. Forti, A. Giwercman, T. S. Han, K. Kula, F. Labrie, M. E. J. Lean, N. Pendleton, M. Punab, A. J. Silman, F. C. W. Wu, T. W. O’Neill, S. Boonen, The EMAS Study Group

Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 8/2010

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Abstract

Summary

The influence of sex steroids on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters was assessed in a population sample of middle-aged and elderly European men. Higher free and total E2 though not testosterone, were independently associated with higher QUS parameters.

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between QUS parameters and sex steroids in middle-aged and elderly European men.

Methods

Three thousand one hundred forty-one men aged between 40 and 79 years were recruited from eight European centres for participation in a study of male ageing: the European Male Ageing Study. Subjects were invited by letter to attend for an interviewer-administered questionnaire, blood sample and QUS of the calcaneus (Hologic-SAHARA). Blood was assessed for sex steroids including oestradiol (E2), testosterone (T), free and bio-available E2 and T and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

Results

Serum total T was not associated with any of the QUS parameters. Free T and both free and total E2 were positively related to all QUS readings, while SHBG concentrations were negatively associated. These relationships were observed in both older and younger (<60 years) men. In a multivariate model, after adjustment for age, centre, height, weight, physical activity levels and smoking, free E2 and SHBG, though not free T, remained independently associated with the QUS parameters. After further adjustment for IGF-1, however, the association with SHBG became non-significant.

Conclusion

Higher free and total E2 are associated with bone health not only among the elderly but also middle-aged European men.
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Metadata
Title
Gonadal sex steroid status and bone health in middle-aged and elderly European men
Authors
D. Vanderschueren
S. R. Pye
K. Venken
H. Borghs
J. Gaytant
I. T. Huhtaniemi
J. E. Adams
K. A. Ward
G. Bartfai
F. F. Casanueva
J. D. Finn
G. Forti
A. Giwercman
T. S. Han
K. Kula
F. Labrie
M. E. J. Lean
N. Pendleton
M. Punab
A. J. Silman
F. C. W. Wu
T. W. O’Neill
S. Boonen
The EMAS Study Group
Publication date
01-08-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Osteoporosis International / Issue 8/2010
Print ISSN: 0937-941X
Electronic ISSN: 1433-2965
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-1144-2

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