Hepatic Steatosis and Stiffness in Adolescent Obesity are Linked to Androgenemia, Insulin Sensitivity, and Inflammation
Authors' conclusion
HFF was higher in girls with PCOS versus those without, but not different from boys. While stiffness did not differ by group, its association with testosterone concentrations in girls without PCOS may be an additional risk biomarker for MASLD in addition to inflammation and insulin resistance. Future larger, longitudinal studies should determine if addressing these alterations, separately or collectively, in youth with obesity could improve hepatic outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Pubertal adolescents with obesity, aged 12–18 years, academic pediatric center25 girls · 10 boys
- Participants
- 15 / 10 / 10
- Exposure
- Girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) vs girls without PCOS vs boys, all with obesity
- Girls with PCOSn = 15
- Girls without PCOSn = 10reference
- Boysn = 10
- Outcome
- MRI hepatic fat fraction (HFF %) and stiffness
Methodological detailsproof-of-concept, single academic pediatric center
- Proof-of-concept
- Single academic pediatric center
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- HFF was higher in girls with PCOS vs those without but not different from boys
- Stiffness did not differ by group
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Associations of HFF and stiffness with glycaemia, insulin sensitivity, testosterone and inflammation
- HFF and stiffness both directly associated with OGTT 2-h glucose and inversely with insulin sensitivity index (ISI)
- Stiffness directly associated with testosterone (total, free) in girls without PCOS
- Stiffness directly associated with IL-6 and IL-18 in the full cohort
Original publication
Hepatic Steatosis and Stiffness in Adolescent Obesity are Linked to Androgenemia, Insulin Sensitivity, and Inflammation. Horm Res Paediatr. Published 23 May 2025. doi:10.
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