title: Abnormal vitamin D metabolism in patients with cirrhosis.
abstract: To assess the role of hepatic function and alcohol on vitamin D metabolism, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels were measured in 20 healthy nonalcoholic control subjects, 31 "inactive" cirrhotics whose alcoholism was in remission, 8 alcoholic cirrhotics, and 15 alcoholics with normal liver function. Cirrhosis but not alcoholism, was assoicated with low serum 25-OHD levels. The aminopyrine breath test (ABT) was performed because aminopyrine, like vitamin D3, is metabolized by hepatic microsomes; the ABT correlated highly (r = 0.74, rho less than 0.01) with serum 25-OHD in the inactive cirrhotics. After an intravenous injection of 120 mug vitamin D3, serum 25-OHD rose significantly within 24 hr in 6 healthy controls and 2 patients with celiac disease but not in 6 inactive cirrhotics. The data suggest impaired 25-hydroxylation of vitamin-D impaired in patients with cirrhosis, related predominantly to the degree of hepatic dysfunction.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D000431:Ethanol