Oxidative stress and anabolic hormones in back pain: Current concept and preliminary analysis in male cohort

Back Pain (BP) is a common medical problem; anabolic hormones, through the modulation of oxidative stress (OS), could influence fracture risk. We evaluated the prevalence of anabolic hormonal deficiencies and their relationship with OS in males with BP, associated or not to nontraumatic fractures. 49 males with BP, from 36 to 80 years, were divided in two groups according to radiological evidence of nontraumatic fractures; group A (n=25): non-fractured; group B (n=24): fractured. A different prevalence of hormonal deficits was observed: 24% of hypotestosteronemia in A, 0% in B; 16% of GHD in A, 29% in B; Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) showed a trend toward higher levels in B. In A, despite lower TAC, a significant inverse correlation was present between TAC and IGF-1. A greater prevalence of GHD in patients with vertebral fractures was seen and, in a subgroup, OS could mediate the deleterious effects of hyposecretory GH state.