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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and thyroid dysfunction: a systematic review
Ahad Eshraghian1, Alireza Hamidian Jahromi1
1Ahad Eshraghian, Department of Internal Medicine, Namazi hospital, Shiraz University of medical sciences, PO Box 71345-1744 Shiraz, Iran.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 11, 2014
Summary
Thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, is common in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Research is ongoing to confirm if hypothyroidism is a direct risk factor for these liver conditions.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Hepatology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Thyroid hormones regulate key metabolic processes including body weight, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance.
- These metabolic functions suggest a potential role for thyroid hormones in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on the association between thyroid dysfunction and NAFLD/NASH in human subjects.
- To synthesize findings regarding the prevalence and potential risk factors of NAFLD/NASH related to thyroid abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
- The search focused on English-language studies published up to August 2013, identifying articles linking thyroid dysfunction with NAFLD/NASH in humans.
- Eleven relevant studies were selected for the final review from an initial pool of 140 identified articles.
Main Results:
- Thyroid dysfunctions, specifically overt or subclinical hypothyroidism, were found to be prevalent in patients diagnosed with NAFLD/NASH.
- Some studies indicated that hypothyroidism may act as an independent risk factor for NAFLD/NASH.
- However, conflicting results emerged from other recent studies, failing to establish a clear association.
Conclusions:
- The current body of research presents inconsistent findings regarding the role of thyroid abnormalities in the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH.
- Further investigation is recommended to elucidate the precise relationship between hypothyroidism and NAFLD/NASH, including the underlying biological mechanisms.
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