In my clinic I am seeing many women with weight gain during the hormonal changes of the perimenopausal and menopausal years.
If the liver is clogged up with fatty deposits, all the amazing roles it plays in supporting health are compromised. We see this in blood test markers of raised triglycerides, raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fat increases around the middle, poor energy, weight gain, an increase in hormonal issues with many more symptoms
Estrogen and the Liver
When estrogen declines, women are less effective at managing their blood sugar and more prone to diabetes, non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) or fatty deposits in the liver and weight gain. A weblink to take a look at Menopause and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review Focusing on Therapeutic Perspectives – PubMed (nih.gov)
A fatty liver makes it much harder for the poor liver to do the many jobs it is required to do, of which there are over 500 different functions. The liver plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism and it stores energy for us in the form of glycogen. It is also involved in the clearance of estrogens, which is so important, particularly during and after the menopause.
The importance of looking after the liver is therefore more critical during the years leading up to and post menopause than ever before.
Managing blood sugar and the foods we eat and don’t eat, makes more difference to liver optimisation than anything else. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can be reversed with some good dietary choices and so can your hormonal health be transformed too. This is the way forward for healthy weight loss.
Optimise the health of your liver, support hormonal health and lose weight with an individualised/personalised diet plan.
Contact: Jane Rose-Land BSc Nutritional Medicine, BANT, CNHC to discuss further… Contact & Find Me – Nutrition in Norfolk
References
Ahmed F, Kamble PG, Hetty S, Fanni G, Vranic M, Sarsenbayeva A, Kristófi R, Almby K, Svensson MK, Pereira MJ, Eriksson JW. Role of Estrogen and Its Receptors in Adipose Tissue Glucose Metabolism in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Apr 19;107(5):e1879-e1889. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac042. PMID: 35084504; PMCID: PMC9016422. Role of Estrogen and Its Receptors in Adipose Tissue Glucose Metabolism in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women – PubMed (nih.gov)
Chen KL, Madak-Erdogan Z. Estrogens and female liver health. Steroids. 2018 May;133:38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Nov 1. PMID: 29100781. Estrogens and female liver health – PubMed (nih.gov) Venetsanaki V, Polyzos SA. Menopause and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review Focusing on Therapeutic Perspectives. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2019;17(6):546-555. doi: 10.2174/1570161116666180711121949. PMID: 29992886. –Menopause and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review Focusing on Therapeutic Perspectives – PubMed (nih.gov)