What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to investigate the relationship between basal metabolic rate and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, highlighting possible sex differences.

February 21, 2026Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity0 citationsOpen Access

Sex-Specific Basal Metabolic Rate and NAFLD Risk: The Multi-Population Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study

CHChunyu HuArmy Medical University YTYuanling TaoArmy Medical University LZLaixi ZhangArmy Medical University

Key Points

The study aims to investigate the relationship between basal metabolic rate and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, highlighting possible sex differences.
Analyzed data from 30,845 Chinese participants and 5,019 US adults
Estimated BMR using Mifflin-St Jeor equation
Employed multivariable-adjusted logistic regression and restricted cubic splines
Conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization using GWAS data
Increased BMR correlated with higher NAFLD risk, especially in Chinese men and women
Significant odds ratios observed across quartiles of BMR in Chinese: up to 5.98 for highest quartile
NHANES data indicated similar trends, with a highest weighted OR of 16.10
Causality confirmed in MR analysis with an OR of 1.59

Abstract

Background: The impact of basal metabolic rate (BMR) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still not fully understood, particularly regarding potential sex differences. We aimed to explore population-specific associations using data from health examinations, NHANES 2017– 2020, and genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Methods: 30,845 Chinese from health examinations and 5019 US adults from NHANES were analyzed. BMR was estimated using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were applied. To determine the causality, a two-sample MR study was conducted among Europeans using GWASs data for BMR (IEU OpenGWAS) and NAFLD (FinnGen). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: In Chinese, ORs (95% CIs) for NAFLD across ascending quartile groups of BMR were 1 (reference), 1.17 (1.03– 1.33), 1.83 (1.60– 2.09), and 5.98 (4.92– 7.28). The corresponding ORs (95% CIs) were 2.00 (1.67– 2.39), 2.71 (2.24– 3.29), and 4.91 (3.97– 6.10) for males, and 1.64 (1.41– 1.92), 1.93 (1.64– 2.27), and 4.04 (3.41– 4.81) for females. In the NHANES, weighted ORs (95% CIs) for NAFLD across quartile groups were 1 (reference), 1.84 (0.95– 3.54), 4.98 (2.28– 10.89), and 16.10 (6.69– 38.72), with similar associations across sexes. Significant sex differences in BMR-NAFLD associations ( P for interaction < 0.05) were observed in the Chinese, but not in the US population. RCS revealed nonlinear dose-response relationships in both sexes within the Chinese population. Two-sample MR confirmed a causal effect with OR (95% CI) of 1.59 (1.24– 2.03). Conclusion: A higher BMR is an independent and causally relevant risk factor for NAFLD. The observed sex effect modification in the Chinese population suggests that population-specific management strategies may be warranted. Keywords: basal metabolic rate, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, sex-specific, Mendelian randomization

AI से पूछें

Bookmark

View Full Paper