Antiaging Atlanta

Amory JK - J Clin Endocrinol Metab - 01-FEB-2004; 89(2): 503-10
From NIH/NLM MEDLINE
NLM Citation ID:
14764753 (PubMed)
Comment:

• J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Feb;89(2):501-2
  PubMed ID: 14764752

Full Source Title:
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Publication Type:
Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial
Language:
English
Author Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs-Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Authors:
Amory JK; Watts NB; Easley KA; Sutton PR; Anawalt BD; Matsumoto AM; Bremner WJ; Tenover JL
Abstract:
Older men, particularly those with low serum testosterone (T) levels, might benefit from T therapy to improve bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce fracture risk. Concerns exist, however, about the impact of T therapy on the prostate in older men. We hypothesized that the combination of T and finasteride (F), a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, might increase BMD in older men without adverse effects on the prostate. Seventy men aged 65 yr or older, with a serum T less than 12.1 nmol/liter on two occasions, were randomly assigned to receive one of three regimens for 36 months: T enanthate, 200 mg im every 2 wk with placebo pills daily (T-only); T enanthate, 200 mg every 2 wk with 5 mg F daily (T+F); or placebo injections and pills (placebo). Low BMD was not an inclusion criterion. We obtained serial measurements of BMD of the lumbar spine and hip by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate size were measured at baseline and during treatment to assess the impact of therapy on the prostate. Fifty men completed the 36-month protocol. By an intent-to-treat analysis including all men for as long as they contributed data, T therapy for 36 months increased BMD in these men at the lumbar spine [10.2 +/- 1.4% (mean percentage increase from baseline +/- SEM; T-only) and 9.3 +/- 1.4% (T+F) vs. 1.3 +/- 1.4% for placebo (P < 0.001)] and in the hip [2.7 +/- 0.7% (T-only) and 2.2 +/- 0.7% (T+F) vs. -0.2 +/- 0.7% for placebo, (P < or = 0.02)]. Significant increases in BMD were seen also in the intertrochanteric and trochanteric regions of the hip. After 6 months of therapy, urinary deoxypyridinoline (a bone-resorption marker) decreased significantly compared with baseline in both the T-only and T+F groups (P < 0.001) but was not significantly reduced compared with the placebo group. Over 36 months, PSA increased significantly from baseline in the T-only group (P < 0.001). Prostate volume increased in all groups during the 36-month treatment period, but this increase was significantly less in the T+F group compared with both the T-only and placebo groups (P = 0.02). These results demonstrate that T therapy in older men with low serum T increases vertebral and hip BMD over 36 months, both when administered alone and when combined with F. This finding suggests that dihydrotestosterone is not essential for the beneficial effects of T on BMD in men. In addition, the concomitant administration of F with T appears to attenuate the impact of T therapy on prostate size and PSA and might reduce the chance of benign prostatic hypertrophy or other prostate-related complications in older men on T therapy. These findings have important implications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in older men with low T levels.
Major Subjects:

• Bone Density / * drug effects
• Enzyme Inhibitors / * therapeutic use
• Finasteride / * therapeutic use
• Testosterone / adverse effects / * analogs & derivatives / * blood / * therapeutic use

Additional Subjects:

• Aged
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Humans
• Male
• Organ Size / drug effects
• Prostate / drug effects / pathology
• Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Chemical Compound Name:
(Enzyme Inhibitors); 315-37-7(testosterone enanthate); 58-22-0(Testosterone); 98319-26-7(Finasteride); EC 3.4.21.77(Prostate-Specific Antigen)
Grant ID:
AG10975 AG NIA