Insomnia, fatigue, irritability, night sweats… These vasomotor symptoms can appear during menopause. Among them, we also find hot flashes. In a recent study, researchers from Aretaieion University Hospital in Athens (Greece) wanted to analyze the likelihood that a person would develop fatty liver disease, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, linked to menopause and the potential link with vasomotor symptoms. As a reminder, fatty liver disease is associated with metabolic syndrome (abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.). It is characterized by an accumulation of fats in the liver, apart from any excessive consumption of alcohol.
Fatty liver disease: 3 times more risk in case of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms
For the purposes of the work, the team recruited 106 perimenopausal women who had already gone through menopause. She estimated fatty liver to determine the risk of fat accumulation in the liver. The scientists took into account age, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, history of menstrual irregularities and use of hormonal treatment. According to the results, presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Boston (ENDO 2024), 42 participants with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms had a three times higher risk of suffering from fatty liver disease than 64 volunteers. having mild symptoms. According to the authors, this risk was 9.3 times higher when the sample was limited to women who experienced symptoms within five years of the menopausal transition.
“Comprehensive care for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women”
“Women who experience these symptoms should consult a healthcare professional to address them and assess their cardiovascular health. Previously, vasomotor symptoms were primarily considered indicators of estrogen deficiency, but this study suggests broader implications for cardiovascular health linked to this hormonal imbalance (…) We hope that these results will encourage health professionals to provide comprehensive care to perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, beyond discussions solely focused on hormonal treatment. said Eleni Armeni, lead author of the work.
