Dr. Lionel S. Lim of Griffin Hospital, Derby, Conn., and colleagues studied 3,269 men age 65 and older -- average age 72.7. At an initial examination from 2000 to 2002 and at a follow-up visit an average of 4.6 years later, the men answered questions about medication use and brought in containers for all medication taken during the past 30 days.

Bone mineral density of the total hip was measured

A total of 84 men continuously used loop diuretics between the two time periods, 181 used them intermittently and 3,004 did not use them.

"Compared with rates of hip bone loss among non-users of diuretics, adjusted rates of loss were about two-fold greater among intermittent loop diuretic users and about (two-point-five)-fold greater among continuous loop diuretic users," the study authors said in a statement. "We conclude that loop diuretic use in older men in associated with increased rates of hip bone loss."

The findings are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.