Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations and liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To explore associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D] concentrations and liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


RESULTS
We studied 60 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, and 60 healthy controls of comparable age, sex and body mass index (BMI). NAFLD patients had a marked decrease in winter serum 25(OH)D concentrations (51.0+/-22 vs. 74.5+/-15 nmol/L, P<0.001) compared with controls. Metabolic syndrome (MetS; as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) and its individual components occurred more frequently among NAFLD patients. The marked differences in 25(OH)D concentrations observed between the groups were little affected by adjustment for age, sex, BMI, creatinine, calcium, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance, and the presence of the MetS. Interestingly, among NAFLD patients, decreased 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with the histological severity of hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis (P<0.001 for all) independent of age, sex, BMI, creatinine, calcium, HOMA-insulin resistance, and presence of the MetS.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with controls, NAFLD patients have a marked decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentrations, which is closely associated with histopathological features of NAFLD. Further investigation into whether vitamin D(3) may play a role in the development and progression of NAFLD appears to be warranted.
Targher
Giovanni
G
Division of Internal Medicine and Diabetes Unit, Sacro Cuore-don G. Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy. targher@sacrocuore.it <targher@sacrocuore.it>
Bertolini
Lorenzo
L
Scala
Luca
L
Cigolini
Massimo
M
Zenari
Luciano
L
Falezza
Giancarlo
G
Arcaro
Guido
G
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D002112:Calcifediol