Androgens and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Reproductive-Aged Women With and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how androgens, a type of sex hormone, may influence nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in young women, especially those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS often have high androgen levels and a higher risk of NAFLD, which can cause liver damage like inflammation or scarring. This observational study aims to compare changes in NAFLD over time between young women with and without PCOS to understand these effects better. The study will follow 150 reproductive-aged women diagnosed with metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH), including 125 women with PCOS and 25 without PCOS. Participants will be grouped based on their PCOS status and androgen levels, including those with hyperandrogenism, non-hyperandrogenism, and no PCOS. The research team will assess the relationship between androgen levels, liver injury, visceral fat, and lipid metabolism in these groups. Participants will be monitored over three years, with evaluations including liver stiffness measurements and assessments of visceral adipose tissue at the start and follow-up visits. The study will collect data on liver health progression and fat distribution to explore the connection between androgens and liver disease severity. This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and conducted by experts at the University of California, San Francisco, and Duke University.

Androgens and NAFLD Longitudinal Cohort Study