Effect of Testosterone Treatment on Volumetric Bone Density and Strength in Older Men With Low Testosterone: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Importance: As men age, they experience decreased serum testosterone concentrations, decreased bone mineral density (BMD), and increased risk of fracture.

Objective: To determine whether testosterone treatment of older men with low testosterone increases volumetric BMD (vBMD) and estimated bone strength.

Design, setting, and participants: Placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with treatment allocation by minimization at 9 US academic medical centers of men 65 years or older with 2 testosterone concentrations averaging less than 275 ng/L participating in the Testosterone Trials from December 2011 to June 2014. The analysis was a modified intent-to-treat comparison of treatment groups by multivariable linear regression adjusted for balancing factors as required by minimization.

Interventions: Testosterone gel, adjusted to maintain the testosterone level within the normal range for young men, or placebo gel for 1 year.

Main outcomes and measures: Spine and hip vBMD was determined by quantitative computed tomography at baseline and 12 months. Bone strength was estimated by finite element analysis of quantitative computed tomography data. Areal BMD was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 12 months.

Results: There were 211 participants (mean [SD] age, 72.3 [5.9] years; 86% white; mean [SD] body mass index, 31.2 [3.4]). Testosterone treatment was associated with significantly greater increases than placebo in mean spine trabecular vBMD (7.5%; 95% CI, 4.8% to 10.3% vs 0.8%; 95% CI, -1.9% to 3.4%; treatment effect, 6.8%; 95% CI, 4.8%-8.7%; P < .001), spine peripheral vBMD, hip trabecular and peripheral vBMD, and mean estimated strength of spine trabecular bone (10.8%; 95% CI, 7.4% to 14.3% vs 2.4%; 95% CI, -1.0% to 5.7%; treatment effect, 8.5%; 95% CI, 6.0%-10.9%; P < .001), spine peripheral bone, and hip trabecular and peripheral bone. The estimated strength increases were greater in trabecular than peripheral bone and greater in the spine than hip. Testosterone treatment increased spine areal BMD but less than vBMD.

Conclusions and relevance: Testosterone treatment for 1 year of older men with low testosterone significantly increased vBMD and estimated bone strength, more in trabecular than peripheral bone and more in the spine than hip. A larger, longer trial could determine whether this treatment also reduces fracture risk.

Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00799617.

Figure 1. Screening and Retention of Participants

Figure 2. Median Serum Concentrations of Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, and Estradiol From Months 0 to 12 in Men Treated With Testosterone or Placebo

The P values indicate the significance of the difference in serum concentrations in men in the testosterone arm compared with men in the placebo arm. The shaded areas represent the normal ranges for healthy young men. Error bars indicate interquartile ranges. SI conversion factors: To convert testosterone to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 0.0347; to convert free testosterone to picomoles per liter, multiply by 3.47; to convert estradiol to picomoles per liter, multiply by 3.67.

Figure 3. Effects of Testosterone or Placebo Treatment for 12 Months on Volumetric Bone Mineral Density and Estimated Bone Strength of Trabecular, Peripheral, and Whole Bone of the Spine and Hip, as Assessed by Quantitative Computed Tomography

Bars indicate means, and error bars, standard deviations. The P values indicate the significance of the difference in change in percent volumetric bone mineral density or estimated strength from baseline to 12 months for men in the testosterone arm compared with the placebo arm.