Changes in quantitative bone histomorphometry in aging healthy men

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1996-06, Vol.81 (6), p.2264-2270
• Main Authors: CLARKE, B. L, EBELING, P. R, JONES, J. D, WAHNER, H. W, O'FALLON, W. M, RIGGS, B. L, FITZPATRICK, L. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Sex Characteristics; Skeleton and joints; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.81.6.2264

Changes in bone mineral metabolism with aging in healthy men and the roles of various factors in the pathogenesis of age-related changes in quantitative bone histomorphometry in men are poorly defined. To clarify these changes and factors, serum and urinary biochemical parameters and iliac crest bone biopsies were evaluated in 43 healthy men, aged 20-80 yr. The static histomorphometric parameters, cancellous bone volume and osteoblast-osteoid interface, decreased by 40.0% and 19.2%, respectively, between 20-80 yr of age. The dynamic histomorphometric parameters, double and single labeled osteoid, also decreased by 18.6% and 18.0%, respectively, over this period. None of the other static or dynamic histomorphometric parameters changed with age in this population sample of healthy men. Univariate analysis of static bone histomorphometric parameters and biochemical parameters revealed significant correlations between osteoid surface and intact PTH (r = 0.37; P = 0.015); osteoclast surface and serum total testosterone (r = 0.36; P = 0.016), estradiol (r = 0.40; P = 0.009), and FSH (r = 0.49; P = 0.001); osteoblast-osteoid interface and serum phosphate (r = 0.31; P = 0.046); and cortical thickness and serum total calcium (r = 0.38; P = 0.013). Univariate analysis of dynamic bone histomorphometric parameters and biochemical parameters revealed correlations between mineral apposition rate and serum total testosterone (r = 0.32; P = 0.037); total volume-referent bone formation rate and serum osteocalcin (r = 0.43; P = 0.004), total testosterone (r = 0.47; P = 0.001), estradiol (r = 0.35; P = 0.023), and dehydroepinadrosterone sulfate (r = 0.31; P = 0.045); and mean wall thickness and serum total calcium (r = 0.36; P = 0.019) and creatinine clearance (r = 0.42; P = 010). Mineralization lag time and serum phosphate (r = -0.39; P = 0.012) and urinary total pyridinoline (r = 0.36; P = 0.023), and mean wall thickness and urinary total pyridinoline (r = -0.38; P = 0.013), were inversely correlated. Multiple regression analysis using all-subset analysis comparing cancellous bone volume to serum and urinary biochemical parameters in these men indicated that the log free androgen index and body weight best predicted the age-related decline in iliac crest cancellous bone volume (r2 = 0.19; P = 0.015). Multiple regression analysis by the same method, comparing bone density at different skeletal sites to bone histomorphometric parameters, indicated that lumbar spine bone mine