title: Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties, exerts an anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) effect in vitro and improves response to interferon-based therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Low serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D [25(OH)D] are frequently found in CHC patients and seem to be related to more advanced stages of liver fibrosis. The study aims to establish the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in Spanish patients with CHC, its possible relation with features of liver damage and with the IL28B gene polymorphism, and the immediate effect of vitamin D therapy on CHC-related analytical variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in 108 consecutive CHC patients (60 men, age 54.3 ± 10.5 yrs). Results of transient elastography and of IL28B rs12979860C/T genotype were available in 89 and 95 patients, respectively. Forty one patients with insufficient levels of 25(OH)D received vitamin D supplements and were re-evaluated thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deficiency of vitamin D (< 20 μg/dL) and suboptimal levels (20-30 μg/mL) were detected in 36.1% and 40.9% of patients, respectively. No relationships were found between 25(OH)D levels and biochemical liver tests, fibrosis stage and IL28B genotype. Vitamin D therapy normalized 25(OH)D levels in all treated patients, but did not modify significantly HCV-RNA serum levels or biochemical tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common in Spanish patients with CHC but it is related neither to biochemical and virological variables nor with the fibrosis stage and IL28B polymorphism. Vitamin D therapy has no immediate effect on HCV-RNA serum levels.
authors: Service of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Department of Medicine, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain. jladero.hcsc@salud.madrid.org
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Ladero
authors: María J
authors: MJ
authors: Torrejón
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Sánchez-Pobre
authors: Avelina
authors: A
authors: Suárez
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Cuenca
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: de la Orden
authors: María J
authors: MJ
authors: Devesa
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Rodrigo
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Estrada
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: López-Alonso
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Agúndez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014807:Vitamin D; D014815:Vitamins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D