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Is there a role of free oxygen radicals in primary male osteoporosis ?

S. Yalin¹, S. Bagis², G. Polat³, N. Dogruer¹, S. Cenk Aksit², R. Hatungil⁴, C. Erdogan²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Mersin University Pharmacy School, Mersin; and 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, ³Department of Biochemistry and ⁴Department of Physiology, Mersin University Medical School, Mersin, Turkey.

ABSTRACT
Objective
There is not enough evidence about the relationship between free radicals and male osteoporosis. In this study we investigated the role of free oxygen radicals and antioxidants on male osteoporosis in 31 male patients with primary osteoporosis and 21 subjects as controls.

Methods
Bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar and femoral neck region were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorbsiometry. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured by analytical methods. In addition, serum osteocalcine and C telopeptide levels were determined to evaluate bone turnover. MDA and NO levels and SOD activity were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in osteoporotic males.

Results
There was a negative correlation between SOD and lumbar BMD levels (r = -0.328; p = 0.021). The same trend was observed between NO and lumbar BMD (r = -0.473; p = 0.001) and femoral neck BMD values (r = –0.540; p = 0.000). There was no significant correlation between free radical levels and bone turnover markers.

Conclusion
The data indicate an increase in free oxygen radical levels. As a result, antioxidant defenses would compromise in primary male osteoporotic patients. Therefore, it may be suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of primary male osteoporosis.

Key words
Osteoporosis, free oxygen radicals, antioxidant.

Please address correspondence to: Serap Yalin, MD, Mersin University Pharmacy School, Department of Biochemistry, 33169, Mersin, Turkey.
E-mail address: syalin01@hotmail.com