Sex hormones determine the risk of liver damage in children with overweight

Interestingly, oestradiol proved protective in both girls and boys, while testosterone was associated with an increased risk in both. Contrary to popular belief, both hormones are produced by boys and girls alike.

Oestradiol protective, testosterone harmful

In all 290 children, who are being treated at the Centre for Overweight Adolescent and Children's Healthcare (COACH) at Maastricht UMC+, liver values were measured and liver fat was assessed by ultrasound. Oestradiol, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were associated with a healthier liver. Free and bioavailable testosterone and DHEAS, on the other hand, were associated with higher liver values and more fat accumulation in the children's livers.

Sex differences: a recurring theme in health research

The published study is one of several examples showing that sex differences are relevant to health risks, even at a young age, while research and diagnostics are still often designed around a single, sex-neutral norm. TNO is developing these insights further within its Metabolic Health and Women's Health research programmes, together with clinical partners such as Maastricht UMC+ and the MenoPause Consortium, to narrow the so-called health gap in healthcare.

This study is part of a broader TNO movement to better understand sex differences in health and to close the health gap. It arose partly from the collaboration between TNO's Efficient Drug Development (EDD) and Youth Health (YH) propositions. Would you like to work with TNO on this?

Explore, together with Anita van den Hoek, Symone Detmar, Robert Kleemann, Nicole van Kesteren and Arianne van Koppen, how our Women's Health and Child Health initiatives can contribute to research into sex-specific health risks, such as liver disease in children.