A prospective study of sex steroids, sex hormone-binding globulin, and non-vertebral fractures in women and men: The Tromsøo Study

Abstract

Objectives: As bone fragility is partly the result of sex hormone deficiency, we sought to determine whether circulating sex steroids or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) predicts non-vertebral fractures. Methods: Forearm bone mineral density (BMD), total estradiol and testosterone, calculated free levels, and SHBG were measured in 1386 postmenopausal women and 1364 men aged 50-84 years at baseline in the Tromsø Study (1994-1995). Non-vertebral fractures were documented between 1994 and 2005. Results: During 8.4 years (range 0.01-10.4) of follow-up, 281 women and 105 men suffered non-vertebral fractures. For both sexes, fracture cases had lower BMD and higher SHBG, but sex steroids were no..