Summary of the studies evaluating the role of sex hormones in the risk of NAFLD

ReferencesType of studyPopulationFindings
Völzke et al. [31]ObservationalAdult men recruited from the SHIP studyHepatic steatosis is associated with low testosterone and high DHEAS levels
Van de Velde et al. [32]ObservationalAdult men with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery undergoing liver biopsySubjects with NASH have lower cFT levels and a higher cFE2/cFT ratio as compared to those with only fatty liver
Sarkar et al. [33]ObservationalAdult men with biopsy-proven NAFLDMen with low free testosterone are more likely to have NASH and advanced fibrosis
Yim et al. [34]ObservationalAdult subjects participants from the NHANES 2011–2012Low total testosterone levels were associated with abnormal ALT levels in men and post-menopausal women irrespective of other risk factors
Kumarendran et al. [36]ObservationalWomen aged 18–50 with and without PCOSPatients with PCOS have an increased rate of NAFLD irrespective of BMI or impaired glucose metabolism
Sarkar et al. [37]ObservationalWomen aged 18–45 years with and without PCOS and biopsy-confirmed NAFLDThe presence of PCOS was associated with an increasing fibrosis in patients with NASH
Sarkar et al. [50]ObservationalHealthy Caucasian and African American women aged 18–30Increased free testosterone levels are associated with NAFLD independently from BMI, insulin resistance and waist
Fujihara et al. [51]ObservationalHealthy middle-age Japanese menLow FT and high SHBG plasma levels are associated with a higher FIB-4 index
Hazlehurst et al. [64]TrialHealthy young male treated with finasteride/dutasterideIncreased metabolic risk and intrahepatic lipid accumulation on MRS in patients treated with dutasteride
Gild et al. [69]ObservationalAdult men with PCa undergoing ADTIncreased risk of NAFLD and any liver disease in treated patients
Sawazaki et al. [70]ObservationalMen with PCa undergoing ADTIncreased intrahepatic fatty deposition on abdominal CT

ADT: androgen-deprivation therapy; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; cFT: calculated free testosterone; cFE2: calculated free estradiol; CT: computed tomography; MRS: magnetic resonance spectroscopy; PCa: prostate cancer