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VOLUME 12 , ISSUE S1 ( July, 2022 ) > List of Articles

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Gender Differences in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Manisha Bangar, Sherna Menezes, Shobna Bhatia, Nazish Butt, Jhumur Ghosh, Jayani Harshika Manchanayake

Keywords : Fibrosis, Gender, Gender difference, Liver cancer, Menopause, Metabolic syndrome, Molecular pathogenesis, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Prevalence, Sex hormones

Citation Information :

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1370

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 10-08-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has currently emerged as the most common liver disorder in both developed and developing countries. It has been observed that NAFLD exhibits sexual dimorphism, and there is limited understanding on the sex differences in adults with NAFLD. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease shows marked differences in prevalence and severity with regards to gender. There are considerable biological disparities between males and females attributed to differences in the chromosomal makeup and sex hormone levels, distinct from the gender differences resulting from the sociocultural influences that lead to differences in lifestyle, which have a significant impact on the pathogenesis of this complex disorder. A multitude of factors contributes to the gender disparities seen and need to be researched in-depth to better understand the mechanisms behind them and the therapeutic measures that can be taken. In this article, we will review the gender disparities seen in NAFLD, as well as recent studies highlighting certain gender-specific factors contributing to its varying prevalence and severity.


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