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. 2018 Jan-Feb;22(1):62-66.
doi: 10.4103/ijem.IJEM_414_16.

A Prospective, Observational Study of Osteoporosis in Men

Narendra Kotwal  1 , Vimal Upreti  1 , Amit Nachankar  1 , K V S Hari Kumar  1
Affiliations

A Prospective, Observational Study of Osteoporosis in Men

Narendra Kotwal et al. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Context: The number of men afflicted with osteoporosis is unknown.

Aims: This study aims to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis in men.

Settings and design: This was a prospective, observational study.

Subjects and methods: A total of 200 male attendants of patients attending endocrine outpatient department and who were >55 years were recruited for the study. All the patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis were advised lifestyle interventions, supplementation with calcium carbonate (1000-1500 mg/day) and 25-hydroxyl-Vitamin D (400-600 IU/day) and bisphosphonates if indicated. Vitamin D3 60,000 IU once a week for 8 weeks and once a month thereafter was prescribed to Vitamin D-deficient patients. Androgen-deficient patients were given replacements of either injectable testosterone or oral testosterone undecanoate.

Statistical analysis used: Two sample t-test and paired t-test were used to compare pre- and post-test parameters.

Results: Overall 80 (40%) subjects had low bone mass, 93 (43.5%) had Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, and 39 (19.5%) had androgen deficiency. Osteoporosis was found in 8.5% patients. All patients were above 70 years (Mean age: 73.82 ± 2.79 years). Seventy percentage of these patients had low serum testosterone and 70% of patients had Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. About 31.5% of patients had osteopenia (mean age of 67.47 ± 6.35 years). Thirty-five percentage of these patients were androgen deficient and 25% were Vitamin D-deficient/insufficient. Age >70 years, serum testosterone <3 ng/ml, Vitamin D <30 ng/ml were strong risk factors for osteoporosis. Vitamin D supplementation, androgen replacement, and bisphosphonate therapy had beneficial effect on bone mineral density (BMD).

Conclusions: Low bone mass was common (40%) in males over 55 years of age. Age >70 years, low androgen (<3 ng/ml), steroid use, and low Vitamin D (<20 ng/ml) were independent risk factors of male osteoporosis. Calcium and Vitamin D are effective in improving BMD. Androgen replacement has beneficial effect on BMD in hypogonadism patients.

Keywords: Androgen deficiency; Vitamin D deficiency; osteopenia; osteoporosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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