Review article: the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D in chronic hepatitis C infection.
BACKGROUND
Recent interest has focused on the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D, in particular, in patients with chronic hepatitis C.


OBJECTIVE
To review data in the literature regarding the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D in patients with chronic hepatitis C, with and without liver transplantation.


METHODS
A Medline search was performed for relevant studies up to August 2011 using the terms 'vitamin D' 'chronic liver disease' and 'hepatitis C'.


RESULTS
Vitamin D deficiency is very frequent before liver transplantation ranging between 51% and 92%, whereas, in the liver transplantation setting, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is also high. Severe liver disease may increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency and vice versa, as there may be a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and fibrosis. In patients with chronic hepatitis C and those with recurrent of hepatitis C after liver transplantation, recent clinical data shows that a higher serum vitamin D level is an independent predictor of sustained virological response (SVR) following anti-viral therapy, and that a higher SVR is achieved with vitamin D supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Larger randomised clinical studies with adequate statistical power are needed to confirm these potentially very important nonskeletal effects of vitamin D in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Aristotle University, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
E
E
Cholongitas
E
E
Theocharidou
J
J
Goulis
E
E
Tsochatzis
E
E
Akriviadis
K
K
Burroughs
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014807:Vitamin D