Chronic Health Blog

Testosterone Tuesday: Testosterone Therapy Reduces Bone Loss

Older men with low testosterone levels may reduce bone loss and improve bone density by having injections of testosterone. These injections may help to prevent osteoporosis.

Testosterone therapy has been used to improve bone strength and muscle mass in some men. However, the hormone treatment is controversial, because it has been associated with increasing the risk of prostate cancer and high levels of red blood cells. And other potential effects of long-term use of testosterone therapy aren’t known.

For the five-month study, 13 men who ranged in age from 60 - 85, were either given weekly injections of testosterone, weekly injections of testosterone every other month, or a placebo.

The study results showed that the men who received the testosterone shots had reduced bone turnover. Because the study only used a small number of participants, there is controversy over whether testosterone therapy is a proven method to reduce bone loss. A larger study would need to be conducted.

MedicineNet.com