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Continuous testosterone administration for 5 months reduces markers of bone turnover in older men
Author(s) -
Dillon Edgar Lichar,
Urban Randall J.,
Angel James A.,
Casperson Sha L.,
PaddonJones Douglas,
SheffieldMoore Melinda
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1188.3
Subject(s) - testosterone (patch) , bone remodeling , endocrinology , medicine , osteocalcin , placebo , n terminal telopeptide , bone mineral , osteoporosis , alkaline phosphatase , biology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , enzyme
Men and women undergo a progressive reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) with advancing age. Maintenance of circulating testosterone concentrations is beneficial to BMD in older men. We investigated whether continuous and monthly cycled administration of testosterone improves markers of bone metabolism in older men with low normal endogenous testosterone. Older men (68.92 ± 1.59 yrs, serum total testosterone 362 ± 23 ng/dL, n=13) completed a 5‐month randomized double blinded placebo controlled protocol. Subjects received either continuous testosterone (weekly injections, 100 mg testosterone‐enanthate) for 5 months (TE, n=4), monthly cycled testosterone/placebo treatment (MO, n=4), or weekly placebo (PL, n=5). Fasting blood and 24‐h urine was collected each month and DEXA scans were obtained at 0 and 5 months to assess changes in markers of bone turnover and BMD. Serum n‐telopeptide decreased in TE and showed a trend for decrease in MO when compared to PL. Serum osteocalcin decreased significantly in TE but not in MO when compared to PL. There were no changes in urinary deoxypyrrodinoline, bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase, intact‐parathyroid hormone, or calcitonin in any of the groups. Pelvic BMD decreased in PL and MO but not in TE. These data show beneficial effects of continuous testosterone therapy on markers of bone turnover in older men with low‐normal endogenous testosterone concentrations.