Inverse association of serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels with fatty liver disease in middle-aged and elderly men

Abstract

Background: We examined the associations of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels with fatty liver disease among middle-aged and older men. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,121 Korean men aged ≥45 years who participated in a health examination program from 2012 to 2013. Serum testosterone and SHBG levels were divided into quartiles. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for fatty liver disease were calculated according to testosterone and SHBG quartiles with multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of fatty liver disease increased proportionally with decreasing testosterone and SHBG quartiles. In all three models, compared with the fourth quartile, the ORs (95% CIs) of fatty liver disease in the first quartiles were 2.04 (1.33-3.11) for testosterone and 3.30 (2.09-5.20) for SHBG after adjusting confounding factors. Conclusion: Testosterone and SHBG levels were inversely and independently associated with fatty liver disease.