Effect of hypogonadism on bone mineral density in young males

A study of the relationship between bone mineral density and the level of testosterone in young hypogonadal males. The patients' group consisted of 20 hypogonadal men. A group of 20-euogonadal age matched men served as a control group. All were subjected to history taking, thorough clinical examination, measurement of serum testosterone levels with ELISA and assessment of bone mineral density [BMD] with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] for left femur, forearm and spine. The mean age of patients was 2 7.1 +/- 2.79 [years] with a mean body mass index [BMI] 24.23 +/- 4.67 kg/m[2]. Testosterone levels were highly significantly lower in patients vs. controls p<0.001. Patients showed highly significant reduction of BMD for left femur, forearm and spine than control group p<0.001. Testosterone levels and BMD were highly significantly lower in patients with delayed onset of puberty compared to those with normal onset puberty p<0.001. There was no significant difference in BMD or serum testosterone between patients with 1ry or 2ry hypogonadism p>0.05. A highly significant positive correlation was found between serum testosterone and T-score at all sites. Hypogonadal patients have lower serum testosterone level and lower BMD than age-matched controls. The more testosterone is deficient, the worse the BMD. Patients with history of delayed puberty have lower BMD than those with normal onset of puberty, and the more the delay the more the reduction in BMD. The spine is the most affected site with osteopenia in hypogonadal men