EVALUATION OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Hepatology
• Bone Metabolism

Background:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly linked to systemic health issues.
• Emerging evidence suggests a potential negative impact of NAFLD on bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis risk.
• This study addresses the debated relationship between NAFLD and bone health in a specific demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.
• To compare BMD parameters between postmenopausal women with and without NAFLD.
• To identify potential contributing factors to bone density changes in this population.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study design involving 118 postmenopausal women.
• Participants categorized into two groups: 59 with NAFLD and 59 without NAFLD based on ultrasonography.
• Comparison of bone mineral density (BMD) at the femur and lumbar spine (L1-L4) between groups, alongside analysis of demographic and biochemical factors.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in femoral T-score or L1-L4 T-score was observed between women with and without NAFLD.
• A significant negative correlation was found between Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) levels and the femoral T-score.
• Age and Body Mass Index (BMI) also demonstrated a negative impact on femoral T-score.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD did not show a direct association with reduced BMD in postmenopausal women.
• Elevated GGT levels, a marker often associated with liver conditions, were linked to lower femoral bone density.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay between liver health, GGT, and bone metabolism, potentially suggesting an indirect role of NAFLD in osteoporosis development.