By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Women who suffer hot flashes during menopause are more likely to develop a form of liver disease, warns new research.
Those experiencing moderate-to-severe flashes and night sweats – also known as vasomotor symptoms – face a three times greater risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared to those with mild symptoms, according to the findings.
NAFLD affects up to one in four people worldwide. Most won’t have symptoms, and some may never know they have the condition. But up to one-in-20 will experience complications from the fat in their livers.
Hot flashes and night sweats have become synonymous with menopause, say scientists.
Study lead author Dr. Eleni Armeni said: “This research is significant as it contributes to understanding the link between vasomotor symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors.
“It is crucial for the general public because it emphasizes how hot flashes and night sweats can signal an increased risk for heart and metabolic issues.”
The research team set out to analyze the likelihood of someone developing NAFLD related to menopause and the potential link with vasomotor symptoms.
Dr. Armeni, a research fellow at Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, said: “Women experiencing these symptoms should consult a health care professional to address the symptoms and assess their cardiovascular health.
“Previously, vasomotor symptoms were primarily seen as indicators of estrogen deficiency, but this study suggests broader implications for cardiovascular health related to this hormonal imbalance.”
Dr. Armeni and her colleagues evaluated 106 peri- and post-menopausal women treated in an outpatient clinic.
The team estimated steatotic liver disease (SLD) to determine the risk on the fatty liver index. They took into account factors including age, exercise, alcohol, smoking, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use.
The results showed that 42 women with moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms had a three times higher risk for NAFLD compared with 64 women who had mild symptom severity.
That risk was 9.3 times higher when they limited the sample to those who experienced symptoms within five years after the menopausal transition.
Dr. Armeni added: “We hope these findings will encourage healthcare providers to offer comprehensive care to peri- and post-menopausal women, going beyond discussions solely focused on hormone replacement therapy.”
She is due to present the findings on Monday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass.
