How does fatty liver disease affect hormone levels?

May 14, 2025

The Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Strategy™ By Julissa Clay the program discussed in the eBook, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Strategy, has been designed to improve the health of your liver just by eliminating the factors and reversing the effects caused by your fatty liver. It has been made an easy-to-follow program by breaking it up into lists of recipes and stepwise instructions. Everyone can use this clinically proven program without any risk. You can claim your money back within 60 days if its results are not appealing to you.


How does fatty liver disease affect hormone levels?

Fatty liver disease—particularly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—has a profound influence on hormone levels since the liver plays a key role in metabolizing, activating, and eliminating hormones. Such hormonal imbalances can contribute to, as well as be the result of, liver dysfunction, with a tendency to form a vicious cycle. The following is how fatty liver disease influences various hormonal systems:

???? 1. Insulin and Glucose Metabolism
Insulin resistance is both a cause and a result of fatty liver.

As fat builds up in the liver, it interferes with insulin signaling, leading to:

High insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia)

Rise in blood sugar

Development of type 2 diabetes

Insulin resistance also promotes additional fat storage in the liver, worsening NAFLD.

⚖️ 2. Sex Hormones (Estrogen, Testosterone)
In Men:
NAFLD is linked with low testosterone.
Fatty liver promotes conversion of testosterone to estrogen via the enzyme aromatase (found in fat tissue).

This can lead to gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), low libido, and tiredness.

In Women:
NAFLD is more common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition where androgen (male hormone) levels are high.

Fatty liver can disrupt estrogen and progesterone balance, leading to:

Irregular periods

Infertility

Worsening of PCOS symptoms

???? 3. Cortisol and Stress Hormones
Fatty liver is associated with high cortisol, the main stress hormone.

Chronic stress and obesity raise cortisol levels, which then:

Promote the storage of fat in the liver

Exacerbate insulin resistance

Lead to fatigue and poor sleep
???? 4. Thyroid Hormones
People with NAFLD also have low thyroid function (hypothyroidism).

The liver helps convert T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) to T3 (active form).

When liver function is impaired:

This process becomes slower

Metabolism slows down

Fat continues to accumulate in the liver and body
????️ 5. Leptin and Ghrelin (Appetite Hormones)
Leptin (appetite suppressor) is less effective in NAFLD due to leptin resistance.

Ghrelin (appetite stimulator) may be elevated or dysregulated.

This leads to:

Overeating and hunger

Weight gain, worsening fatty liver

???? 6. Growth Hormone (GH) and IGF-1
NAFLD is associated with low growth hormone and low IGF-1 levels.

These hormones are involved in:

Fat breakdown

Muscle building

Liver regeneration

Low GH levels can contribute to visceral fat excess and liver repair deficits.

???? 7. Serotonin and Melatonin (Sleep & Mood)
Liver dysfunction affects tryptophan metabolism, which may decrease serotonin (mood) and melatonin (sleep regulation).

This can lead to:

Poor sleep

Increased depression or anxiety

Nighttime cravings or sluggishness

✅ Summary of Hormonal Effects
Hormone/System\tEffect of Fatty Liver Disease
Insulin\tResistance, high levels, worsens liver fat
Testosterone\tDecreased in males, feminizing features
Estrogen\tImbalanced, affects menstruation & fertility
Cortisol\tIncreased, promotes fat storage & inflammation
Thyroid hormones\tReduced T3 conversion, metabolism slows
Leptin/Ghrelin\tAppetite imbalance, weight gain
Growth Hormone\tDecreased levels impede fat metabolism & liver regeneration
Melatonin/Serotonin Impaired mood and sleep due to poor liver function

???? What to Do:
If you suspect hormonal issues from fatty liver disease:

Ask your doctor for thyroid function, testosterone/estrogen, and insulin resistance tests.

Lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss, exercise, diet) typically normalize hormones naturally.

In some patients, hormone replacement or medication may be considered.

Would you like a personalized guide to managing hormonal symptoms while treating fatty liver disease?

Cirrhosis is the end stage of fatty liver disease, where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis), severely reducing liver function. It typically follows nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and may remain silent while the liver damage becomes severe.

The main signs and symptoms of cirrhosis in patients with fatty liver disease are:

⚠️ Initial Signs (Generally Subtle)
These may occur slowly:

Weakness or fatigue

Loss of appetite

Mild abdominal discomfort (especially in the right upper quadrant)

Nausea or involuntary weight loss

Swelling in the legs or ankles (edema)

Spider angiomas (small, visible blood vessels on the skin)

???? Clinical & Laboratory Clues
Elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST)

Low platelet count

Abnormal albumin or bilirubin levels

Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) – decreased blood clotting

???? Advanced Signs (Decompensated Cirrhosis)
After the liver can no longer compensate, more severe symptoms arise:

Ascites – Fluid buildup in the belly (swollen abdomen)

Jaundice – Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to excess bilirubin

Variceal bleeding – Bleeding from enlarged veins in the stomach or esophagus, typically manifesting as vomiting blood or black stools

Hepatic encephalopathy – Confusion, forgetfulness, or sleepiness caused by toxin buildup in the brain

Severe swelling of the legs – Refractory peripheral edema

Pruritus (itchy skin) – Due to the buildup of bile salts

Easy bleeding or bruising – Because of faulty clotting protein formation

Muscle wasting – Universal in advanced stages owing to deranged protein metabolism

???? When to Seek Help
If an individual with fatty liver disease develops symptoms of:

Abdominal distension

Confusion

Jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes

Vomiting blood or black stools

He/she should be seen by a physician right away—these can be symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis, which is life-threatening.

???? Conclusion
Cirrhosis from fatty liver disease can remain asymptomatic for years, and symptoms do not manifest until in its late stages. Fatigue, swelling, and jaundice are common symptoms, and early detection by monitoring the liver is key to stopping or slowing its progression.

Do you want a checklist of the symptoms of cirrhosis to monitor or an overview of how it is diagnosed and treated?

The Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Strategy™ By Julissa Clay the program discussed in the eBook, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Strategy, has been designed to improve the health of your liver just by eliminating the factors and reversing the effects caused by your fatty liver. It has been made an easy-to-follow program by breaking it up into lists of recipes and stepwise instructions. Everyone can use this clinically proven program without any risk. You can claim your money back within 60 days if its results are not appealing to you