Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2012; 18(3): 237-243
Published online Jan 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i3.237
Aging is a risk factor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in premenopausal women
Masahide Hamaguchi, Takao Kojima, Akihiro Ohbora, Noriyuki Takeda, Michiaki Fukui, Takahiro Kato
Masahide Hamaguchi, Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Takao Kojima, Akihiro Ohbora, Takahiro Kato, Department of Gastroenterology, Murakami Memorial Hospital, Asahi University, Gifu 500-8523, Japan
Noriyuki Takeda, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Murakami Memorial Hospital, Asahi University, Gifu 500-8523, Japan
Michiaki Fukui, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
Author contributions: Hamaguchi M, Kojima T designed the research; Hamaguchi M, Kojima T, Ohbora A, Takeda N, Kato T performed the research; Hamaguchi M analyzed data; Hamaguchi M and Fukui M wrote the paper.
Supported by Young Scientists (B) (23790791) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Correspondence to: Takao Kojima, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Murakami Memorial Hospital, Asahi University, 3-23 Hashimoto-cho, Gifu 500-8523, Japan. tkojima-gi@umin.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-58-2538001 Fax: +81-58-2533299
Received: June 2, 2011
Revised: September 8, 2011
Accepted: October 28, 2011
Published online: January 21, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To clarify the relationship between age, menopause, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women.

METHODS: We conducted a follow-up study on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by using abdominal ultrasonography, and investigated the relationship of age and menopause with the development of NAFLD in women. We followed 1829 women and 2572 men (response rate, 86%) selected in 2001 to represent the non-institutionalized adult population of Gifu, Japan. Data collected included self-reported medical history, lifestyle factors, and menopausal status. The postmenopausal state was defined as beginning 1 year after the cessation of menses. We diagnosed NAFLD with the aid of abdominal ultrasonography by using diagnostic criteria described previously.

RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD in women increases with age, but does not alter with age in men. Furthermore, the prevalence of NAFLD in premenopausal women (6%) was lower than that in men (24%) and in postmenopausal women (15%). The associations of the postmenopausal state and hormone replacement therapy with NAFLD were statistically significant in a univariate logistic regression model. At the follow-up examination, 67 women (5%) were newly diagnosed with NAFLD. The incidence of NAFLD was 3.5% (28/802) in premenopausal women, 7.5% (4/53) in menopausal women, 6.1% (24/392) in postmenopausal women, and 5.3% (11/206) in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. The weight gain in premenopausal women was equal to that in postmenopausal women. Metabolic syndrome and weight gain were independent risk factors for NAFLD in pre- and postmenopausal women, but age was an independent risk factor in premenopausal women only.

CONCLUSION: Aging is a risk factor for NAFLD in premenopausal women, independent of weight gain or influence of metabolic syndrome.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Cardiovascular disease; Risk factor; Steatohepatitis; Postmenopausal women