The Endocrine Role of Estrogens on Human Male Skeleton

Table 2

Risk of osteoporosis and fractures along with clinical manifestations according to estrogen status in elderly men.

	Elderly men with late onset hypogonadism
Estrogenic status	Relative estrogen deficiency; (less functioning aromatase)	Normal circulating estrogens; (normal functioning aromatase)
Clinical phenotype	Low serum E2	Normal serum E2
	Normal E2/T ratio	Impaired E2/T ratio
	Highest gonadotropins	Less increased gonadotropins
	Severely impaired BMD	Normal to moderate BMD decrease
	Osteoporosis	Osteopenia
		Risk of developing gynecomastia
Fracture risk	High	Low

: estradiol; T: testosterone; BMD: bone mineral density.