More rapid bone mineral density loss in older men with diabetes: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study.

CONTEXT: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) 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 5,994 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 a follow-up DXA or with unknown diabetes status. Changes in hip BMD in participants with normoglycemia (NG), prediabetes, or T2D, excluding thiazolidinedione (TZD) users, were evaluated using generalized linear models (GLM). Diabetes medication use and BMD loss among those with T2D were also evaluated with GLM.

RESULTS: In adjusted models, loss in hip BMD was greater in men with T2D (- 2.23%: 95% CI: -2.54 to -1.91; p<0.001) but not in men with prediabetes (-1.45%; 95% CI -1.63 to -1.26; p=0.33) compared to NG (-1.57%: 95% CI -1.73 to -1.41). Among men with T2D, TZD, insulin and sulfonylurea use were associated with greater hip BMD loss.

CONCLUSIONS: Men with T2D, but not prediabetes, experienced an accelerated bone loss compared to participants with normoglycemia. More rapid bone loss predicts increased risk of fractures and mortality in broader populations.