Men's Osteoporosis Support GroupFEV1 and osteoporosis risk; male testosterone and estradiol levels and mortality J Bone Miner Res. 2009 May;24(5):956-63. Respiratory function as a marker of bone health and fracture risk in an older population. Moayyeri A and others. PMID: 19402201. This was a sub segment of a large European cancer study involving 8304 women and 6496 men. The participants received QUS, heel quantitative ultrasonography and spirometry. (the forced expiratory volume in 1 second) which is the FEV1, and were followed up for incident hip fractures. The findings showed that those with a 1-liter increase in FEV1 had a statistically significant increase in broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) [note this is the equivalent of bone mineral density as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)]. Also the mean FEV1 was significantly lower among 84 women and 36 men with hip fracture compared with other participants. The authors were able to relate the 1-liter increase in FEV1 as being approximately equal to a 5-year decrease in age among both men and women. It was also equal to a 1 SD increase in BUA for men. The authors concluded, "Middle-aged and older people with low respiratory function are at increased risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture. FEV1, an easy, low-cost, and feasible clinical measure, may help improve the identification of high-risk groups." Editor's comments. These results are primarily for medical professionals. One would hope that they will see the ease and simplicity of the spirometry as a test to give middle-age and older individuals that might also indicate their need for follow-up testing for osteoporosis. That is, if the FEV1 is low, then a referral to an osteoporosis specialist would be indicated to rule out osteoporosis. But patients who educate themselves as to the information in the medical literature will be ahead of the game. It's your health, so protect it. If you have spirometry and the results are in the low range, also ask for a referral for an osteoporosis evaluation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]. Low Serum Testosterone and Estradiol Predict Mortality in Elderly Men. Tivesten A and others. PMID: 19401373. This study involved 3,104 Swedish men mean age 75 years, range 69-80, whose serum testosterone and estradiol were measured and then who were followed for 4.5 years. There were 383 deaths, with increased risk for death being found in the lowest quartile of either or both sex hormones. In fact, risk of death nearly doubled in men with low testosterone and estradiol compared with subjects within quartiles 2-4 of both hormones. The authors concluded, "Elderly men with low serum testosterone and estradiol have increased risk of mortality, and subjects with low values of both testosterone and estradiol have the highest risk of mortality." Editor's comments: Not only is it important for bone health to have normal testosterone and estradiol levels, but low levels of either or both hormones appears to put men at increased risk for death too. There are no estradiol supplements for men of which I'm aware. But testosterone supplementation is readily available, mainly with either injections, gels or patches. So older men should ask their care providers about their sex hormone levels during medical check ups. It is appears to be vitally important to keep them in the normal range.
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