Triiodothyronine Is Associated with Incidence/Resolution of Steatotic Liver Disease: Longitudinal Study in Euthyroid Korean
- Author:
Hye In KIM
1
;
Jun Young KIM
;
Jung Hwan CHO
;
Ji Min HAN
;
Sunghwan SUH
;
Ji Cheol BAE
;
Tae Hyuk KIM
;
Sun Wook KIM
;
Jong Ryeal HAHM
;
Jae Hoon CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;40(1):135-145
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The positive relationship between triiodothyronine (T3) and steatotic liver disease (SLD) demonstrated only in crosssectional study. We aimed to evaluated whether total T3 (TT3) is associated with the development/resolution of SLD in longitudinal design.
Methods:This retrospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort study included 1,665 South Korean euthyroid adults with ≥4 thyroid function test. We explored the impact of mean TT3 during follow-up on development/resolution of either SLD (diagnosed by ultrasound) or modified metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) using Cox proportional hazards regression models.
Results:During about median 5 years follow-up, 807/1,216 (66.3%) participants among participants without SLD at baseline developed SLD, and 253/318 (79.5%) participants among participants with SLD at baseline SLD resolved fatty liver. Mean TT3 rather than thyroid stimulating hormone or mean free thyroxine was significantly related with development (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.02; P=0.002) and resolution (adjusted HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96 to 0.99; P=0.005) of SLD. Compared with low mean TT3 group, high mean TT3 group was positively associated with development of SLD (adjusted HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.38; P=0.008) and inversely associated with resolution of SLD (adjusted HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). The statistical significance remained for development (adjusted HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.51; P=0.001) and resolution (adjusted HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.94; P=0.018) of modified MASLD.
Conclusion:In Korean euthyroid adults, TT3 level was associated with development and resolution of either SLD or modified MASLD.