title: Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for fatty liver disease among non-obese adults.
abstract: Recent data have revealed an inverse relationship between insulin resistance, which is associated with fatty liver disease, and blood 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of vitamin D levels with the presence and stage of fatty liver disease among non-obese subjects and to determine the effect of vitamin D status on fatty liver disease development. A total of 613 non-obese (body mass index <30 kg/m(2)) gastroenterology and internal medicine outpatients (472 women and 141 men) were enrolled in the study. The patients' laboratory values, including liver function tests, lipid profiles, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, insulin, calcium and 25(OH)D levels were studied. Low vitamin D levels, higher triglyceride levels and higher alanine aminotransferase levels were found to be the significant determinants for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. When the patients were evaluated as low or normal vitamin D groups, low vitamin D levels was determined to be a risk factor for fatty liver disease, with an odds ratio of -1.59 (confidence interval -1.22 to -1.97). The increased risk for fatty liver disease among patients with low vitamin D status may be suggestive of mechanisms promoting fat flow and accumulation in the liver. Molecular studies are warranted to elucidate the action of vitamin D on the liver with respect to fat metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Turgut Ozal University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasapoglu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turkay
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlioglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sozen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koktener
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Fatty liver disease; vitamin D