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Low testosterone has become prevalent in older men. This is because testosterone production reduces as men age. Scientists have linked several health conditions, such as dementia, Parkinson’s, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, infertility, sleep disorder, hair loss, depression, obesity, low energy, and distorted cognitive functions.
Because of the overwhelming functions and effects of low testosterone in older men, it has become imperative for men to take actions such as performing bone density tests. What is a bone density test? Why is it important for men with low testosterone? What is the relationship between testosterone and bone health? How is bone density related to testosterone levels?
In this article, we will reveal why a bone density test is important for men with low testosterone and everything you need to know about the relationship between bone density and testosterone levels.
A bone density test is carried out to determine the levels of minerals (mainly phosphorus and calcium) in parts of the bones, particularly the hips, lower arm and spine. Ideally, a bone density test shows how strong and healthy your bones are. It also reveals if there’s a reduced bone mass. Performing a bone density test will help healthcare practitioners determine your risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis. It also helps doctors determine if there’s a risk of bone fracture in the future.
A bone density test is performed with X-rays, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA), or a unique CT scan that utilizes computer software to find bone density in the hip or spine. However, the DEXA scan is highly preferred in the medical field compared to other bone density methods. Most medical practitioners consider it as the gold standard and believe it produces the most accurate result.
During a DEXA scan, a low dose of X-ray is used in a fast and non-invasive way to evaluate the mineral content of your bone. Contrary to what people think, the process is usually seamless and painless.
The resulting bone mineral density measurement is usually reported as a T-score. The higher your T-score, the lower your risk of fracture; the lower your T-score, the higher your risk of fracture or osteoporosis.
Ideally, a T-score of minus 1 or higher indicates you’re good to go. On the other hand, a T-score of minus 2.5 or lower is critical. This implies that you’re at a greater risk of osteoporosis.
According to scientific research, testosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density in males. It’s a well-known fact that testosterone levels decline with age. Low bone density is among the symptoms and signs of testosterone deficiency in older males.
Although the relationship between testosterone levels and osteoporosis development has been conflicting in human studies, many studies show the positive effect of testosterone replacement therapy on bone mass density, especially in hypogonadal men (i.e., men with testosterone deficiency or low testosterone levels) with osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis contributes to spine and femoral fractures in elderly men, which affects their daily life and overall quality of life.
Several studies have proven the relationship between testosterone deficiency and bone mass density.
Like testosterone levels reduce as men get older, so do bone density and bone mass. As bone density and bone mass decreases, the risk for osteoporosis or bone fracture increases. But, it’s vital to understand that not everyone with low boss mass develops osteoporosis. But, if someone has a low bone mass and loses bone density, then they have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
Since bone density decreases with age, younger men do not need bone density tests. Ideally, routine bone density tests are not recommended for men. This is because men naturally have a high bone mass and lose bone more slowly as they age.
However, this is different for men with low testosterone because low testosterone levels play a crucial role in speeding up bone loss. This implies that men with low testosterone levels will generally lose more bones and are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis.
Bone density test is important for men with low testosterone because it helps reveal how likely their bones are to break. It’s also crucial in diagnosing osteopenia and osteoporosis so treatments can begin as soon as possible. Statistics reveal that low bone density is prevalent and affects around 43.3 million adults in the US.
Early treatment helps to avert bone fractures and prevent the complications associated with osteoporosis, especially in older people and those with low testosterone levels. Therefore, the earlier these bone diseases are diagnosed, the sooner treatment can be started to prevent the conditions from worsening.
Bone density tests can also help older men determine their rate of bone loss and assess the effectiveness of treatments that prevent boss loss.
It’s evident that maintaining a healthy bone density is crucial to improving daily life and overall quality of life. Men with low testosterone are at a higher risk of developing bone diseases such as osteoporosis because of low bone density.
Performing bone density tests helps healthcare partitioners diagnose low bone density, osteoporosis, and bone fractures because they get worse. Because bone density reduces as men age, doctors recommend frequent bone density tests for elderly men and those with low testosterone.
Scientific research has shown that testosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density. Also, decreased bone density is among the signs and symptoms linked to low testosterone linked to low testosterone. Furthermore, men with low testosterone generally have low bone density. In addition, administrating testosterone treatment to older men with low testosterone has been proven to increase bone density and bone strength.
Testosterone is involved in several bone functions, including increasing skeletal muscle mass. This is because testosterone helps the body produce proteins that are crucial in building muscle mass. Also, low testosterone levels are among the factors responsible for bone loss in older men.
Increasing testosterone will help to boost muscle mass, muscle strength, sexual functions, and overall quality of life. Clinical trials have shown that increasing testosterone reduces fat mass and increases strength and muscle size.
To increase bone density in men, consume calcium-rich foods, get sufficient Vitamin D and K2, eat vegetables, indulge in workouts, especially strength and weight training, and maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight.
