AIM:To determine the relationship between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)and bone mineral density(BMD).METHODS:A total of 38 patients(25 males)with a diagnosis of histologically proven NASH and 42 healthy controls(24 males)were enrolled in the study.Demographic features,clinical findings,complete blood count and routine biochemical analysis,as well as adrenal,thyroid and gonadal functions,were recorded.Additionally,intact parathormone,25-OH-vitamin-D3,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,interleukin-1,in-sulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels were measured in both groups.Furthermore,lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD of both groups were measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA)method.RESULTS:The mean age was 41±12 years in the NASH group and 43±11 years in the control group.Among demographic features,waist circumference was significantly larger in the NASH group compared to the control group(P<0.019).Among laboratory parameters,serum triglyceride(P<0.008),alanine transaminase(P<0.0001),aspartate transaminase(P<0.001),alkaline phosphatase(P<0.016),gamma glutamyl transferase(P<0.0001),ferritin(P<0.001)and 25-OH-vitamin-D3levels(P<0.0001)were significantly higher in the NASH group compared to the control group.Lumbar BMD was significantly higher in the NASH group compared to the control group(1.057±0.119 g/cm2vs 0.941±0.133 g/cm2;P<0.001,respectively).In the NASH group,there was no significant relationship between BMD and fibrosis stage in liver biopsy.CONCLUSION:NASH increases BMD and may be related to an elevated serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 level.