Testosterone helps men with osteoporosis

SAN DIEGO, April 8 (UPI) -- Preliminary data show beneficial effects of testosterone therapy on men low in testosterone and at risk for osteoporosis, U.S. researchers said.

University of Texas researchers said low levels of gender hormones -- estrogen in women and testosterone in men -- can lead to diminished bone mineral density and less cushioning to protect the bone from cracking in a slip or fall.

However, testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, is the standard of care used to improve bone strength and muscle mass in males, but it has been associated with prostate cancer, high red blood cell levels and its other effects are not fully known.

In the study, 13 men ages 60 to 85 had testosterone levels between 200 to 500 nanograms per deciliter of blood at the time of enrollment, compared to normal limits of 250-800.

Each was enrolled in one of three double-blind groups with different testosterone levels.

The study found both continuous and monthly cycled testosterone replacement was beneficial for bone density.

The findings are being reported at the 121st annual meeting of the American Physiological Society, part of Experimental Biology 2008 scientific conference in San Diego.