Risk factors of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive disease that can lead to severe complications, including liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. The increased prevalence of NAFLD in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) suggest its greater significance in this population. Therefore, the present study investigated the frequency and risk factors of NAFLD among women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 294 women with PCOS, among whom the frequency of NAFLD was investigated. A wide range of variables including demographic (age, educational level, marital status, and income), life style variables (including smoking and exercise), clinical variables (including body mass index), gynecological variables (including menstrual pattern) and serum parameters (including thyroid stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, and vitamin D) were investigated for their direct and indirect effect on NAFLD in this population using LISREL software. Results: Mean age of the study population was 29.16±6.16 years; 154 women (52.4%) had NAFLD. Correlation analysis showed that NAFLD had a reverse but weak association with educational level and direct association with BMI, FBS, obesity, and age (P<0.05). The model showed that the several factors had an indirect effect on NAFLD. Conclusion: The high frequency of NAFLD among women with PCOS calls for greater attention of gynecologists to diagnose this liver disease in this specific population, especially in the high-risk group. More studies are required to understand the exact pathophysiology of NAFLD in women with PCOS and how these factors affect this association.