The Study
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease across the spectrum of hypothyroidism.
This study looked at a bunch of people and found that those with underactive thyroids were more likely to have fatty livers. But it didn’t change anyone’s thyroid to see if that fixed the liver—so we don’t know if one caused the other, just that they often happen together.
Analysis score
Maximum 15 for a case report.
Where the score came from
This study looked at people with underactive thyroids and found they were more likely to have extra fat in their liver, even if they weren't overweight.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 515 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even mild thyroid problems may increase liver fat, which could raise risk for liver damage over time, independent of weight or diabetes.
- 230.2% of people with hypothyroidism had fatty liver vs.
- 319.5% without.
- 4Those with worse thyroid function had even higher rates: 29.9% with mild hypothyroidism and 36.3% with severe hypothyroidism.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of hepatology
Year
2012
Authors
G. Chung, Donghee Kim, W. Kim, J. Yim, M. Park, Y. Kim, Jung‐Hwan Yoon, Hyo‐suk Lee
Related Content
Claims (6)
Insulin resistance and chronic inflammation interact in a cycle that increases fat buildup in the liver.
People with hypothyroidism have a higher rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than people with normal thyroid function, even when accounting for obesity and other metabolic factors.
People with more severe hypothyroidism have a higher rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to those with milder forms, with a measurable increase in liver fat accumulation.
People with subclinical hypothyroidism, where thyroid hormone levels are normal but TSH is elevated, have a 29.9% rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, similar to those with overt hypothyroidism and higher than people with normal thyroid function.
People with overt hypothyroidism are more likely to have elevated liver enzyme levels than those with subclinical hypothyroidism or normal thyroid function.
People with an underactive thyroid are more likely to have excess fat in the liver, even when accounting for age, sex, obesity, insulin resistance, and abnormal blood fats.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.