More Rapid Bone Mineral Density Loss in Older Men With Diabetes

Flavia Tramontana, Nicola Napoli, Stephanie Litwack-Harrison, Douglas C Bauer, Eric S Orwoll, Jane A Cauley, Elsa S Strotmeyer, Ann V Schwartz
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 109, Issue 12, December 2024, Pages e2283–e2290
https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae045

Abstract

Context

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with more rapid bone loss in women, but less evidence is available for men or those with prediabetes.

Objective

To determine whether bone loss rate is affected by diabetes status in older men, we analyzed data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study.

Methods

The multisite MrOS study enrolled 5994 men aged ≥ 65 years. Diabetes status was defined by self-report, diabetes medication use, or elevated fasting serum glucose at baseline. Hip bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and a follow-up visit after 4.6 ± 0.4 years. This analysis included 4095 men, excluding those without follow-up DXA or with unknown diabetes status. Changes in hip BMD in participants with normoglycemia (NG), prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes, excluding thiazolidinedione (TZD) users, were evaluated using generalized linear models (GLM). Diabetes medication use and BMD loss among those with type 2 diabetes were also evaluated with GLM.

Results

In adjusted models, hip BMD loss was greater in men with type 2 diabetes (− 2.23%; 95% CI: −2.54 to −1.91; P < .001) but not in men with prediabetes (−1.45%; 95% CI −1.63 to −1.26; P = .33) compared with NG (−1.57%; 95% CI −1.73 to −1.41). Among men with type 2 diabetes, TZD, insulin, and sulfonylurea use were associated with greater hip BMD loss.

Conclusion

Men with type 2 diabetes, but not prediabetes, experienced accelerated bone loss compared to participants with normoglycemia. More rapid bone loss predicts increased risk of fractures and mortality in broader populations.

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