Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36857008›Full record

ArticleEndocrine2023

A cross-sectional analysis of the association between testosterone and biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in men with obesity.

Carlien De Herdt, Christophe De Block, Sven Francque, An Verrijken, Kristof Van Dessel, Luc Van Gaal, Jolijn Van Cauwenberghe, Eveline Dirinck

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Endocrine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Sex Hormones and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Carlien De HerdtDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium. carlien.deherdt@uza.be.ORCID 0000-0002-0682-7573
Christophe De BlockDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Sven FrancqueFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
An VerrijkenDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Kristof Van DesselDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Luc Van GaalDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jolijn Van CauwenbergheDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Eveline DirinckDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Antwerp University Hospital · BEUniversity of Antwerp · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo study the association between testosterone and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) since prior studies have reported inconsistent results.

methodsA retrospective analysis was performed including obese men who underwent a liver biopsy and a metabolic and hepatological work-up. Free testosterone (CFT) was calculated by the Vermeulen equation. The association between total testosterone (total T) and CFT on the one hand and NAFLD and fibrosis on the other hand was investigated and corrected for biasing factors such as metabolic parameters.

resultsIn total, 134 men (mean age 45 ± 12 years, median BMI 39.6 (25.0-64.9) kg/m²) were included. The level of total T and CFT did not significantly differ between NAFL and NASH and the stages of steatosis and ballooning. CFT was significantly lower in a higher stage of fibrosis (p = 0.013), not seen for total T and not persisting after controlling for the influence of BMI, HDL cholesterol and HOMA-IR. A higher stage of lobular inflammation was associated with a lower level of total T (p = 0.033), not seen for CFT and not persisting after controlling for the influence of visceral adipose tissue surface and HOMA-IR.

conclusionsThis is the second largest study investigating the association between testosterone and biopsy-proven NAFLD. No significant association between testosterone levels and NAFLD, and the different histological subgroups or fibrosis was seen. The lower level of CFT in a higher stage of fibrosis and the association between total T and lobular inflammation was driven by poor metabolic parameters.

Indexed as

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAdultBiopsyCross-Sectional StudiesFibrosisHumansInflammationLiverLiver CirrhosisMaleMiddle AgedObesityRetrospective StudiesTestosteroneTestosteroneAdiposityFibrosisLiver biopsyMenNAFLDTestosterone

Identifiers

PMID36857008
OpenAlexW4322719662

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.