Bioavailable testosterone is independently associated with Fatty Liver Index in postmenopausal women

Previous studies have examined the correlation between hyperandrogenemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women and showed contradictory results. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between testosterone level and Fatty Liver Index (FLI), as a surrogate marker for NAFLD, in a cohort of postmenopausal women. A total of 150 postmenopausal women were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as blood pressure, were obtained. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is assessed by FLI, an algorithm based on body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides and γ-glutamyl transferase, as a simple and accurate predictor of hepatic steatosis. Women were divided into three groups (FLI < 30, = 80; 30 ≤ FLI < 60, = 44; FLI ≥ 60, = 26). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance was calculated. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the best model consisted of 4 parameters (e.g., bioavailable testosterone (β = 0.288, = 0.001), log HOMA-IR (β = 0.227, = 0.005), log high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β = 0.322, < 0.001), and retinol-binding protein 4 (β = 0.226, < 0.001)). Adjusted for the best model was 0.550, which means that as much as 55.0% of variation in FLI could be explained with this model. Bioavailable testosterone is independently associated with FLI in postmenopausal women.