The Association of Testosterone Level with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Women with NAFLD

Studies in young women show a higher risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in those with higher testosterone levels. To determine whether testosterone level is also associated with liver injury, i.e., nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis, investigators conducted a study in 200 premenopausal women with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD enrolled in the NASH Clinical Research Network.

Patients were selected at random and had a wide spectrum of NAFLD severity, from simple steatosis to NASH with advanced fibrosis. All patients had liver biopsy results available and free testosterone (T) levels measured within 6 months of the biopsy.

Median age was 35 years, 32% of patients had diabetes, 69% had NASH, 67% had fibrosis, and 15% had adva…