Relationship between serum uric acid level and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in pre- and postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging health problem worldwide. No study specifically examining the relationship between serum uric acid level (UA) and NAFLD in females according to menopausal status has been reported. We conducted this study in order to assess the association of UA with NAFLD in pre- and postmenopausal women.

METHODS: A total of 487 female subjects (221 premenopausal and 266 postmenopausal) with a normal UA, who underwent a health check-up, were enrolled in this study. NAFLD was defined as a hepatic steatosis observed on liver ultrasonography in the absence of a secondary cause.

RESULTS: Among postmenopausal women, a higher UA was observed in subjects with NAFLD than in those without (3.95± 0.10 vs. 4.38 ± 0.80 mg/dl, p = 0.001). Results of multiple correlation analysis revealed a significant association between UA and NAFLD in postmenopausal subjects after adjusting for confounding variables including age, body mass index and the presence of metabolic syndrome (β coefficient 1.149, 95% confidence interval 1.055-1.910, p = 0.021). However, no association in premenopausal women was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: UA within the normal range showed an association with NAFLD, not in premenopausal women, but in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women with increased levels of serum uric acid were more likely to have NAFLD than those without increased levels.