The association of sex hormone levels with quantitative ultrasound, bone mineral density, bone turnover and osteoporotic fractures in older men and women

Summary Objective Sex steroids play an important role in the maintenance of bone health. Association studies on sex steroids and fractures are not consistent. Our objective was to examine whether serum oestradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) are associated with quantitative ultrasound (QUS), bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers and fracture incidence. Design The Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA), an ongoing cohort study including 623 men and 634 women, aged 65–88 years. Measurements Serum levels of E2, T, SHBG, albumin, bone turnover markers serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD/Cr) were measured. QUS of the heel and BMD of the hip were assessed, and a 6‐year fracture follow‐up was performed. Results Men in the lowest quartile (Q1) of bioavailable E2 (bioE2) had higher levels of bone turnover and lower BMD (B = –0·09, P