In a recent study, scientists from Shantou University Medical College found that skin disease psoriasis is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a U.S. outpatient population.
They used data from 5,672 U.S. adults (aged 20 to 59 years) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2003-2006 and 2009-2014 cycles).
Associations between psoriasis and NAFLD were examined in this outpatient sample.
The researchers found that those with psoriasis had a higher prevalence of NAFLD (32.7 versus 26.6 percent) compared with people without psoriasis.
Psoriasis was linked to NAFLD (when adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, educational level, family income, marital status, NHANES cycles, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and smoking and alcohol drinking status.
The team also found psoriasis was associated with NAFLD among men, among those aged 20 to 39 years, and among those without diabetes.
The team says the association between psoriasis and NAFLD in U.S. adults found in this study may be worth considering in psoriasis management.
Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) disease in which the immune system becomes overactive, causing skin cells to multiply too quickly.
Patches of skin become scaly and inflamed, most often on the scalp, elbows, or knees, but other parts of the body can be affected as well.
Scientists do not fully understand what causes psoriasis, but they know that it involves a mix of genetics and environmental factors.
NAFLD is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are types of NAFLD.
NAFLD is a silent disease with few or no symptoms. Certain health conditions and diseases—including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes—make you more likely to develop NAFLD.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about the top signs of diabetic skin disease, and common blood pressure drugs that may cause chronic skin disease.
For more information about skin health, please see recent studies about how tougher skin could change the shape of stealth aircraft, and results showing how to combat the effects of aging on your skin.
The research was published in JAMA Dermatology and conducted by Zhijie Ruan et al.
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