Although more common in women, osteoporosis in men does occur. Learn how this condition affects men and what they can do to protect their bones.
Osteoporosis in Men: How Men Can Protect Their Bones
Throughout your life, your bones break down and rebuild themselves. When that doesn't happen, you can develop osteoporosis, a condition in which more of your bones break down than your body can replace. Long considered a woman's disease, osteoporosis in men deserves more attention.
The Osteoporosis Gender Gap
Osteoporosis causes you to lose bone mineral density, leading to weak, fragile bones that break easily. Wrist, spine and hip fractures are most common.
Women get osteoporosis more frequently than men because:
- Men generally have a higher peak bone mass than women.
- Men lose bone mass more slowly and experience fractures later in life than women do.
However, men can still get osteoporosis, so strategies to maintain bone mass are important. Also, men who break a bone are more likely to die from the fracture than women, so they shouldn't ignore their risk.
What Causes Osteoporosis in Men
Osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone mineral density, but many factors can speed up that loss, including age – we lose more bone density as we get older – and changes in hormone levels.
Women experience a rapid loss of estrogen after menopause, which is why osteoporosis occurs most commonly in post-menopausal women. Men also experience decreases in sex hormones with age but at a slower rate than women.
Men also appear more likely to have what's known as secondary osteoporosis – osteoporosis caused by a medication or medical condition. One reason for this may be that men aren't screened for the disease as women are, so healthcare providers may not identify cases related to age. Still, secondary osteoporosis affects about 50% of men with the disease.
Many medications can cause secondary osteoporosis in men, but other conditions and treatments that increase the risk include:
- Androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer
- Chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis
- Digestive disorders that reduce nutrient absorption, including celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease
- Diseases that affect the endocrine system, such as diabetes, thyroid issues, delayed puberty and growth hormone deficiency
- Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, heavy drinking and not exercising enough
- Neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease
How Men Can Protect Their Bones
Currently, bone density screenings are recommended only for women. Men can be proactive and discuss their bone health with their primary care provider to see if screening might help.
Strategies to prevent osteoporosis are the same for everyone:
- Drink alcohol in moderation. For men, that means two or fewer drinks per day.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes foods high in calcium and vitamin D, including green, leafy vegetables, fatty fish and low-fat dairy products.
- Exercise regularly. Focus on weight-bearing exercises, such as walking and strength training, to strengthen bones.
- Quit smoking if you smoke.
- Take vitamin D and calcium supplements. Your provider may recommend supplements if you can't get these nutrients from your diet. From ages 51 to 70, men need 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day. After age 70, they need 1,200 mg. Men over age 50 need 800 to 1,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day.