The long-term effect of specific type II 5alpha-reductase inhibition with finasteride on bone mineral density in men: results of a 4-year placebo controlled trial
J Urol 2002 May;167(5):2105-8 (ISSN: 0022-5347)
 
Matsumoto AM; Tenover L; McClung M; Mobley D; Geller J; Sullivan M; Grayhack J; Wessells H; Kadmon D; Flanagan M; Zhang GK; Schmidt J; Taylor AM; Lee M; Waldstreicher J
VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Collective Name: The Pless Study Group.
 
PURPOSE: We determine the effect of long-term suppression of dihydrotestosterone with finasteride, a specific type II 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, on bone mineral density.
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a large (3,040 cases) 4-year, double-blind, placebo controlled trial designed to assess the long-term effects of finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 157 men 46 to 76 years old who were randomized to receive either 5 mg. finasteride or placebo underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine at baseline and at years 2, 3 and 4. RESULTS: Of 117 patients who had a baseline measurement and at least 1 additional measurement during the study baseline mean plus or minus standard deviation bone mineral density values were 1.12 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 in the finasteride group (63) and 1.10 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 in the placebo group (54). After 4 years bone mineral density was not different between treatment groups (finasteride 1.14 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 and placebo 1.13 +/- 0.18 gm./cm.2). Similar results were obtained for the 33 finasteride and 25 placebo treated patients who completed the study with year 4 bone mineral density measurements. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that long-term inhibition of type II 5alpha-reductase with finasteride does not adversely affect bone mineral density.

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