Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. After this, they are more likely to face long-term health problems, including fatty liver disease, which occurs when fat builds up in the liver.
This condition, known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is linked to metabolic issues like obesity and high blood pressure.
Although the risk of MASLD increases around the time of menopause, the exact connection between the age at menopause and MASLD had not been fully understood until now.
Researchers from Hadassah Medical Center and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem studied 89,474 women, grouping them by their age at menopause: 40–44, 45–49, and those who had not yet entered menopause by 50. The study revealed the following:
Women who had early menopause (ages 40–44) had a 46% higher risk of fatty liver disease within one year after menopause.
Early menopause was also linked to an 11% higher chance of developing pre-diabetes and obesity, a 14% higher risk of high blood pressure, and a 13% increased risk of unhealthy blood lipid levels.
Women who entered menopause between 45–49 (early-normal menopause) had a 30% higher risk of fatty liver disease and a 16% higher risk of pre-diabetes compared to women who had not yet entered menopause.
Previous research had not shown a clear link between menopause timing and the risk of developing fatty liver disease, but this study provides strong evidence that women who experience menopause before 45 are at a much higher risk of developing this condition and related health problems.
Lead researcher Dr. Joshua Stokar explains, “While earlier studies showed mixed results, our study, which followed participants for five years, supports the idea that women who enter menopause earlier may be more vulnerable to cardio-metabolic diseases.”
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