How Androgens Affect Liver Health in Women with PCOS
Official title: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of Androgens on Liver Injury and NAFLD Progression
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11115746 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how elevated androgen levels in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) may lead to liver damage and the progression of fatty liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $691,653 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134633-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115746 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future clinical applications would be reproductive-aged women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) who are at risk for or have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or liver disease primarily related to androgen levels may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many young women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are developing severe liver disease, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and a more serious form called NASH, at an earlier age. This project aims to understand if the higher androgen levels often seen in PCOS contribute to this liver damage. Researchers believe that these androgens might affect how fat is stored in the body, particularly around organs, which could then harm the liver. By understanding these connections, we hope to identify new ways to protect the liver in women with PCOS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment options that target androgen pathways to prevent or slow liver disease progression in women with PCOS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest a link between androgen levels and liver fibrosis, indicating that targeting androgen receptors could be a promising, though still untested, therapeutic approach for this specific patient group.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkar, Monika — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Sarkar, Monika
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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NAFLD in PCOS: Do androgens drive liver injury and fatty liver progression?
Young women with PCOS may face liver disease progression due to high androgen levels, and this research looks at targeted ways to slow or prevent that progression.
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The impact of androgens on liver health in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
This study is looking at how high levels of certain hormones in women with PCOS might harm their liver and lead to fatty liver disease, and it hopes to find ways to help improve liver health for those affected.
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Better liver imaging for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
This research is creating new MRI techniques to check for liver inflammation and damage in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without needing a biopsy.
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Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
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Targeting fatty liver disease in women around pregnancy to improve health
This grant explores how to identify and help pregnant and postpartum women who are at risk for fatty liver disease to prevent liver problems later.
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Clinically meaningful research on fatty liver disease in adults and children
A nationwide effort studying MASLD, the major form of fatty liver disease, to find better ways to identify who is at risk and how to treat it, including kids and adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.