Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Corticosteroid-induced bone loss in men

G Pearce1, D A Tabensky, P D Delmas

  • 1Austin and Repatriation Medical Center, University of Melbourne, Australia.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|March 20, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Understanding the experiences of people who have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and the health professionals who care for them: A grounded theory study.

International journal of nursing studies·2025
Same author

Provision of High Protein Foods Slows the Age-Related Decline in Nutritional Status in Aged Care Residents: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial.

The journal of nutrition, health & aging·2023
Same author

Effect of dietary sources of calcium and protein on hip fractures and falls in older adults in residential care: cluster randomised controlled trial.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2021
Same author

Problematic substance use: an assessment of workplace implications in midwifery.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2021
Same author

Sex differences in recovery of quality of life 12 months post-fracture in community-dwelling older adults: analyses of the Australian arm of the International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study (AusICUROS).

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2021
Same author

Understanding the future research needs in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Evidence mapping the POTS adult literature.

Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2021
Same journal

Children's neurodevelopment at school age after hysterosalpingography with iodinated contrast: a cohort study.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same journal

Bone phenotype of patients with genetic forms of lipodystrophy: a systematic review of literature.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same journal

The Extra X Chromosome and Autoimmune Susceptibility in Klinefelter Syndrome.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same journal

Pathophysiology-Based Classification of Male Infertility: Evidence from an 800-patient Prospective Cohort.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same journal

Parathyroid Carcinoma: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Multidisciplinary Management.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same journal

Genetic and Clinical Factors Associated With Metformin Plasma Concentrations Following an Acute Metformin Challenge.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
See all related articles

Corticosteroid therapy causes rapid bone loss, primarily by reducing bone formation. This study in men treated for antisperm antibodies found significant decreases in bone mineral density and bone turnover markers, suggesting reduced bone formation, not increased resorption, is the main driver.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Bone Metabolism
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Corticosteroid-induced bone loss is a significant clinical concern.
  • The exact pathophysiology remains unclear, with potential confounding factors from underlying diseases.
  • Hormonal changes and bone turnover markers are implicated but require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the pathophysiology of corticosteroid-related bone loss.
  • To investigate the effects of prednisolone on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in men without systemic illness.
  • To assess the role of hormonal changes in corticosteroid-induced bone loss.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled, prospective study involving 9 men treated with prednisolone and 10 age-matched controls.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure BMD.
  • Circulating biochemical and hormonal determinants of bone turnover were measured before and during treatment.

    • Main Results:

    • Prednisolone treatment led to significant decreases in BMD at the lumbar spine, trochanter, and Ward's triangle.
    • Decreased BMD correlated with the cumulative corticosteroid dose and reduced osteocalcin levels.
    • Serum osteocalcin, skeletal alkaline phosphatase, total testosterone, and estradiol levels significantly decreased, indicating reduced bone formation.

    Conclusions:

    • Corticosteroid therapy induces rapid bone loss, predominantly through reduced bone formation.
    • Increased bone resorption and secondary hyperparathyroidism do not appear to contribute significantly to this rapid bone loss.
    • The precise role of sex steroid changes in mediating reduced bone formation warrants further study.