Relationships between serum uric acid concentrations, uric acid lowering medications, and vertebral fracture in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men: Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) Cohort Study.

•No study has examined the association between serum uric acid (UA) levels and morphometric vertebral fracture (VF) risk.•Elderly Japanese men with higher serum UA levels had lower VF risk independently of UA-lowering medications (ULMs).•ULM users in the lowest quartile of serum UA levels had a significantly higher VF incidence rate compared to higher groups.•Excessive reduction of serum UA concentrations by ULM might elevate VF risk.