Analysis of the Relationship between the Levels of Androgens and Biochemical Bone Markers in Men Aged 60–75 Years

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the parameters of bone turnover and the levels of hormonal parameters, such as total testosterone (TT), bioavailable and free testosterone (FT), and estradiol (E2) in men. Material and methods: The study group included 63 men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS). The control group consisted of 112 patients without TDS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), E2, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), insulin (I), Serum CrossLaps (CtX-I), human procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), and TT. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: The groups with TSD and without TDS differed in terms of the following parameters: body weight (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.003), TT (p = 0.001), FT (p = 0.004), bioavailable testosterone (p = 0.001), E2 (p = 0.003), SHBG (p = 0.003), and PINP (p = 0.004). In the group without TDS, higher PINP levels were accompanied by higher levels of E2 (beta = 0.360, p = 0.002) and TT (beta = 0.389, p = 0.001). In the group without TDS, PINP was positively correlated with E2 (beta = 0.726, p <0.001). Patients with TDS had significantly lower PINP levels (p < 0.004). Conclusions: Analysis of sex hormones and biochemical bone markers in reflecting the quality of the bone tissue in men may suggest a relationship between these parameters. Nevertheless, further research based on a larger sample size is necessary to better describe this relationship.