Osteoporosis in Men

Bones are not static, they are dynamic. Throughout your lifetime your bones are constantly being absorbed by cells called osteoclasts and rebuilt by different cells called osteoblasts. As a person gets older the osteoblasts fall behind and lose their ability to keep up with the absorption of bone by osteoclasts. As a result, bone begins to lose its density and become porous, a debilitating condition known as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is most often associated with aging in women. In fact, most men erroneously assume that this devastating disease only affects women. While women do tend to develop osteoporosis at a younger age than men do, the truth is that men are equally susceptible to it when their testosterone levels begin to decline. If anything, women are only more likely to suffer a life-threatening bone fracture as a result of bones weakened by osteoporosis, than men are because men are more likely to die of other health issues before osteoporosis becomes an issue for them.

As advancements in medicine and trends in healthier living continue to extend the average lifespan, men from the Baby Boomer and younger generation can expect to catch up to women’s longevity. The truth is current trends indicate that by the year 2025, the numbers of serious bone fractures sustained by men will more than double. This makes osteoporosis an equal concern for both sexes.

A man’s risk for developing osteoporosis begins to steadily increase after andropause (the point where the body’s production of testosterone begins to taper off). Not only do a man’s bones begin to weaken at this age, but so do the muscles that support those bones. This is a one-two punch to a man’s potential longevity. Just as with women over the age of 65, over half of elderly men who suffer a hip fracture die within 2 years.

A key to preventing and reversing bone loss in men is bio-identical testosterone replacement coupled with exercise and dietary supplements of vitamin D, calcium and bisphosphonates. Testosterone in men serves in much the same way as estrogen does in women to slow bone loss. Furthermore, estosterone’s conversion to estradiol within the body provides the means to actually rebuild bone using the building blocks in the mentioned dietary supplements so that bones stay strong and healthy well into old age.

From an article titled “Association of Testosterone and Estradiol Deficiency with Osteoporosis and Rapid Bone Loss in Older Men” from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, doi:10.1210/jc.2006-0173:

Conclusions: Older men with total testosterone or estradiol deficiency were more likely to be osteoporotic. Those with osteoporosis were more likely to be total testosterone or estradiol deficient. Rapid hip bone loss was more likely in men with total testosterone deficiency. BMD testing of older men with sex steroid deficiency may be clinically warranted.

Material provided is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent disease and has not been evaluated by the FDA.

REVITA Anti-Aging recommends you consult a specially trained Age Management or Anti-Aging Physician before starting bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Bioidentical hormones should only be taken when clinical deficiencies are found by a trained physician via lab testing. REVITA Medical, PC physicians perform evaluations and specialized testing to qualify patients for treatment.