Early menopause increases risk of fatty liver disease and metabolic disorders

Women who experience menopause before the age of 50 - and especially before the age of 45 - are more likely to develop fatty liver disease and its related metabolic risk factors within one year after menopause, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). This study is the largest to assess this association over five years and suggests that the age of natural menopause should be considered part of the cardio-metabolic risk assessment in women.

In addition, early menopause was associated with an 11% increased likelihood of pre-diabetes and obesity, a 14% increased risk of hypertension, and a 13% increased risk of dyslipidemia (unhealthy levels of lipids in the bloodstream). Similarly, women aged 45–49 who entered menopause (classed as early-normal) had a 30% higher risk of fatty liver disease and 16% higher risk of pre-diabetes than those women who had not entered menopause.

He added: "With the aging of the population, as well as the increase in prevalence of obesity and metabolic risk factors, such intervention may reduce the burden of cardio-metabolic morbidity in post-menopausal women."

Source:

European Society of Endocrinology