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Osteoporosis: a disease in men
Harlan Stock1, Adina Schneider, Elton Strauss
1Department of Orthopaedics, Mount Sinai Hospital Center, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|August 5, 2004
Summary
Osteoporosis affects millions of men, linked to declining estrogen levels and genetic factors. Early diagnosis and targeted therapies like bisphosphonates are crucial for managing this bone disease.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Osteoporosis is a significant metabolic bone disease affecting both men and women.
- Low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration increase fracture risk.
- Approximately 2 million men in the U.S. are affected, highlighting its prevalence in males.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current information on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in men.
- To explore the role of estrogen decline in age-related bone mineral density loss in men.
- To discuss genetic factors and diagnostic challenges in male osteoporosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulating scientific literature on male osteoporosis.
- Analysis of the role of estrogen in bone health for men.
- Examination of diagnostic standards and therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Estrogen is essential for skeletal maturation and bone mass maintenance in men.
- Age-related decline in bioavailable estrogen may contribute to osteoporosis in aging men.
- Osteoporosis candidate genes and their polymorphisms may influence bone density in men.
- Diagnosis in men is often delayed until a fracture occurs.
- Prevention strategies target high-risk males, and therapies like bisphosphonates show promise.
Conclusions:
- Male osteoporosis is an increasingly recognized condition with multifactorial causes.
- Understanding estrogen's role and genetic predispositions is key to managing male osteoporosis.
- Effective prevention and promising medical therapies are emerging for osteoporosis in men.