Polycystic ovary syndrome with hyperandrogenism as a risk factor for non‐obese non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Non-obese NAFLD is more prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in those without. In non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperandrogenemia may be an independent risk factor for non-obese NAFLD.

Sex-specific genetic effects across biomarkers

“…We applied TSEA to the genes containing variants associated with testosterone levels identified by SEMM. In the male component genes, we found enrichment for liver-specific genes (Benjamini-Hochberg corrected p = 3.91x10 -7 respectively, Supplemental women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is associated with increased androgens, have increased risk of NAFLD independent of obesity status (Kim et al 2017) .…”

Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the significance of histological disease severity in lean patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…The study of Akyuz and coworkers showed that hemoglobin level is an independent predictor of NASH severity not only in lean patients but also NAFLD patients without obesity and insulin resistance . Therefore, lean‐NAFLD could represent a different clinical entity, the pathogenesis of which could be mediated by other mechanisms, for instance, microbial dysbiosis, extra‐hepatic underlying diseases, sarcopenia, or polycystic ovary syndrome with hyperandrogenism …”

Serum testosterone and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in men and women in the US

“…Most studies regarding serum total testosterone and NAFLD in premenopausal women have focused on women with PCOS, which is an endocrine abnormality that occurs during the premenopausal period. Many studies, including ours, have reported that serum androgen levels above the normal range, which is a unique feature of PCOS, increase the risk of NAFLD . The prevalence of PCOS is known to be approximately 10%; therefore, the association between high serum testosterone and NAFLD, which was mainly identified in these patients, cannot represent or be extrapolated to the general population of premenopausal women.…”

“…Many studies, including ours, have reported that serum androgen levels above the normal range, which is a unique feature of PCOS, increase the risk of NAFLD. 10,11 The prevalence of PCOS is known to be approximately 10%; 32 therefore, the association between high serum testosterone and NAFLD, which was mainly identified in these patients, cannot represent or be extrapolated to the general population of premenopausal women. We evaluated a representative sample of premenopausal women that was not confined to those with PCOS.…”