New research suggests low testosterone may make the liver more susceptible to the effects of sugar. In mice, scientists found that low testosterone combined with a high-fructose diet made fatty liver worse, and changes in gut bacteria may be involved in the process.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have shed new light on how hormones, diet, and gut health might interact to affect liver health, according to a study . But the results have not yet been confirmed in humans.

Low Testosterone and Fructose May Worsen Fatty Liver

Too much fat building up in the liver is called fatty liver. It’s an early sign of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition associated with factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and low testosterone .

Researchers examined the impact of testosterone and fructose on the liver of 8-week-old male mice. Some were castrated to lower their testosterone levels; others were given a sham operation.…