Understanding the effects of sex and sex differences on liver health and disease is crucial for individualized healthcare and informed decision-making for patients with liver disease. The impact of sex on liver disease varies according to its etiology. Women have a lower prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) than men. However, postmenopausal women face a higher risk of advanced liver fibrosis due to hormonal influences. Sex differences affect the pathogenesis of MASLD, which involves a complex process involving several factors such as hormones, obesity, and the gut microbiome. Furthermore, sex-related differences in the development of MASLDrelated hepatocellular carcinoma have been observed. The sex-specific characteristics of MASLD necessitate an individualized management approach based on scientific evidence. However, research in this area has been lacking. This article reviews the current understanding of sex differences in MASLD.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• KASL clinical practice guidelines for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease 2025
  Won Sohn, Young-Sun Lee, Soon Sun Kim, Jung Hee Kim, Young-Joo Jin, Gi-Ae Kim, Pil Soo Sung, Jeong-Ju Yoo, Young Chang, Eun Joo Lee, Hye Won Lee, Miyoung Choi, Su Jong Yu, Young Kul Jung, Byoung Kuk Jang
  Clinical and Molecular Hepatology.2025; 31(Suppl): S1.     CrossRef
• High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), Metabolic Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (MetALD), and Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) with Metabolic Dysfunction
  Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon
  Biomolecules.2024; 14(11): 1468.     CrossRef

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