Abstract
Objective: Fatty liver (FL) is considered one of the expression phenotype of visceral fat deposit. Visceral fat accumulation has been reported high risk of lifestylerelated disease. Although females have a more severe insulin resistance than that of males, FL was diagnosed in many cases of males. We addressed the question whether the menopause was a risk factor of FL and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: 299 individuals (175 males and 124 females) aged 50-59years old, who visited our hospital for ningen dock of annual check up, were analyzed. We diagnosed FL by ultrasound sonography. MS was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. Results: Normal subject of males was 100, pre-menopausal female (pre-m) was 16, and postmenopausal female (post-m) was 93. FL was diagnosed in 75 of males and 2 of pre-m and 13 of post-m. Pre-menopausal females were existent before 53 years old, after that there were only post-m population. FL was increased from 5.8% to 16.7% after 54 years old which age was consistent with the period of menopausal change. In contrast, FL of male subjects was increased up to 54 years old and decreased after that. There was no MS in pre-m, in contrast, MS was observed in 1.1% of normal subjects and 15.4% of FL subjects in post-m population. Conclusion: FL was declined in male subjects after 54 years old, whereas FL and MS were increased in female after menopause (54 years old). Hence, menopause may be one of risk factors of FL.
