"Researchers found that more than half of the 372 men in their study who underwent androgen-deprivation therapy developed the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. Those with a low calcium intake appeared to be at particular risk, the study authors report in the journal BJU International."

"Suppressing testosterone and other androgen hormones helps control the growth and spread of prostate tumors. But it also causes a drop in bone density, which means that osteoporosis is a common side effect of the therapy. "

"However, the new findings highlight how important adequate calcium levels are for preventing this risk, according to the researchers. The results suggest that men on androgen deprivation therapy should be sure to get at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium each day, lead study author Dr. Jacques Planas told Reuters Health."

"Other bone-protecting measures, like getting adequate vitamin D and not smoking, are also recommended, according to Planas and his colleagues at Autonoma University School of Medicine in Barcelona."

"The findings are based on bone density measurements from men with prostate cancer that had not spread to the bone. Of the 266 men undergoing hormonal therapy, 55 percent had osteoporosis. In addition, a surprisingly high 35 percent of 106 men treated with surgery also had the bone disease."

"Overall, the average calcium intake was lower among men with osteoporosis, at 610 mg per day, versus 683 mg for men without the disease. When Planas and his colleagues considered other factors, like the men's age, calcium intake turned out to be an independent predictor of osteoporosis risk."

"It's not clear why men undergoing surgery had such a high rate of osteoporosis, said Planas. "We are studying if prostate cancer itself may be responsible, secreting different
... read the whole article