Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston are looking at testosterone therapy for older men with osteoporosis.
The research team worked with thirteen men with low testosterone levels between the ages of sixty and eighty-five for five months. Some men received weekly testosterone injections; others received weekly injections of testosterone every other month. A third group received placebo injections.
When compared with the placebo group, the men who received testosterone injections had reduced bone loss over the five month period.
Thirteen subjects is a pretty small sample, but researchers believe the findings are worth another look. If testosterone shots can preserve bone mass in older men with low testosterone levels, they could help prevent osteoporosis — possibly even in men with normal testosterone levels.
Medical experts not associated with the study seem to think the work from the University of Texas is a good start. The director of the Bone and Mineral Research Program at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia said that the findings complemented his own research. A study done at the Garvan Institute found that men with the lowest testosterone levels had the highest risk of fractures related to osteoporosis.
A larger, longer-term trial of testosterone therapy for older men with osteoporosis may be needed to settle the matter. With a larger sample of the population involved in a study, experts would be able to make a more accurate determination of the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy as a treatment for osteoporosis. One small study may have biased results; a broader study may come up with more balanced results.
The pros of testosterone therapy could include:
- Improved bone strength
- Improved muscle mass
- Reduced bone loss
The cons of testosterone therapy could include:
- Possible increased risk of prostate cancer
- Possible increased risk of high levels of red blood cells
- Other effects of long-term testosterone therapy aren’t yet known