title: Association between vitamin D level and viral load or fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B patients from Southern China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of vitamin D playing in patients with chronic hepatitis C has been intensively studied. However, studies on the potential interaction between vitamin D level and chronic hepatitis B are still limited. This study aimed to explore whether any association existed between serum vitamin D level and liver histology or virological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection in Southern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  25-Hydroxyvitamin D serum levels were determined in a cohort of 242 treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Histologic assessment was based on Knodell histologic activity index and Ishak fibrosis staging. Predictors of vitamin D insufficiency were identified using multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D value was 33.90 ng/mL. The percentage of patients with different concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (≥ 30 ng/mL, 20-30 ng/mL, < 20 ng/mL) were 59.9%, 31.4%, and 8.7%, respectively. Gender, season, age, and viral genotype were independent predictors of vitamin D insufficiency (< 30 ng/mL). Patients with genotype B virus infection had a lower mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (P = 0.023) and higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency than those with genotype C (P = 0.021), while no association was found between vitamin D status and viral load. In addition, 25-hydroxyvitamin D level did not significantly vary according to activity grade or fibrosis stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is relatively low in our cohort. Patients infected with genotype B had a higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency than genotype C. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D serum level is not associated with viral load or fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B patients.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhidan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xieer
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Youfu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D019562:Viral Load; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: chronic hepatitis B; genotype; liver fibrosis; viral load; vitamin D