24 May 2024 • A mega meta-analysis involving data from over 76.5 million individuals establishes a robust link between hypothyroidism and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

• Individuals with primary hypothyroidism, whether overt or subclinical, had a 43% higher risk of prevalent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (OR 1.43).
• Moreover, hypothyroidism correlated with an elevated risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or advanced fibrosis by nearly threefold.
• While longitudinal data show a trend toward heightened MASLD risk over a median 4.5-year span, further research is warranted to elucidate causality.

This meta-analysis offers compelling evidence of the interplay between primary hypothyroidism and the presence and severity of MASLD, emphasizing the importance of clinical vigilance in managing these conditions.

Source: BMJ | Read full story