BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has shown that serum uric acid and bilirubin are associated with some chronic diseases, owing to their antioxidant capacity, but the previous research produced discrepant results regarding the relation between uric acid, as well as bilirubin, and bone health. This study was designed to assess the relationship of serum uric acid and total bilirubin with bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in men with type 2 diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 631 male patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Data of patients' medical history, biochemical index, bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra, femoral neck, and total hip, and bone turnover markers including osteocalcin (OC), amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (CTX), and parathyroid hormone were collected and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Both serum uric acid and total bilirubin were positively related to bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra (b=0.179, p.