Open AccessSeverity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is not linked to testosterone concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Kristin A. Dayton,
Fernando Bril,
Diana Barb,
Jinping Lai,
Srilaxmi Kalavalapalli,
Kenneth Cusi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0251449
Subject(s) - fatty liver , insulin resistance , medicine , steatohepatitis , steatosis , type 2 diabetes , liver biopsy , gastroenterology , diabetes mellitus , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , triglyceride , type 2 diabetes mellitus , obesity , biopsy , disease , cholesterol
Background Hypogonadism is reported to occur in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but earlier studies used low-sensitivity diagnostic techniques (CT, ultrasound), for NAFLD diagnosis. We hypothesized that if hypogonadism was due to NAFLD, and not solely attributable to underlying obesity/diabetes, it would be more severe in the presence of steatohepatitis (NASH). To examine the influence of liver disease on testosterone in males with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we used gold-standard liver imaging with MR-spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS), and performed liver biopsies to grade/stage the NAFLD. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we measured in 175 males with T2DM total and free testosterone, markers of insulin resistance, and intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTG) by 1 H-MRS. Those with NAFLD on imaging underwent a liver biopsy. Results Total testosterone was higher in the group without NAFLD (“No-NAFLD”; n = 48) compared to isolated steatosis (IS; n = 62) or NASH (n = 65) (385 ± 116 vs. 339 ± 143 vs. 335 ± 127 ng/ml, p trend 0.03). Testosterone was also lower in obese vs. non-obese subjects in both the No-NAFLD and IS groups (p = 0.06 and p = 0.11, respectively), but not in obese vs. non-obese patients with NASH (p = 0.81). IHTG was independently associated with total testosterone (ß = -4.8, p = 0.004). None of the liver histology characteristics were associated with lower testosterone. Conclusions NAFLD is linked to lower total testosterone in patients with T2DM, but likely given a common soil of insulin resistance/obesity and not from the severity of liver necroinflammation or fibrosis. Nevertheless, clinicians should consider screening patients with T2DM and NAFLD for hypogonadism.