In the Prevention article, Carla Brady, MD, assistant professor of medicine (Gastroenterology), discusses liver function during menopause.
When you're young and healthy, the liver tends to easily repair damage from things like alcohol, infections, or excess fat. However, sometimes the organ lays down scar tissue instead of healthy cells. Estrogen seems to interfere with this process, so when this hormone drops at menopause scar tissue can start building up. "Over time that may lead to advanced chronic liver disease," said Dr. Brady.
Estrogen may also protect the mitochondria, or powerhouses in your liver cells. As levels of this hormone decline, damage can ensue, further accelerating liver aging.
"For many people, liver disease is fairly silent until it gets to more advanced stages," Brady said.