title: Vitamin D deficiency in chronic liver disease.
abstract: Vitamin D is an important secosteroid hormone with known effect on calcium homeostasis, but recently there is increasing recognition that vitamin D also is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently reported in many causes of chronic liver disease and has been associated with the development and evolution of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection. The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CHC is not completely known, but it seems that the involvement of vitamin D in the activation and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune systems and its antiproliferative effect may explain its importance in these liver diseases. Published studies provide evidence for routine screening for hypovitaminosis D in patients with liver disease. Further prospectives studies demonstrating the impact of vitamin D replacement in NAFLD and CHC are required.
authors.affiliation: Paula Iruzubieta, Álvaro Terán, Javier Crespo, Emilio Fábrega, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iruzubieta
authors.affiliation: Paula Iruzubieta, Álvaro Terán, Javier Crespo, Emilio Fábrega, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Terán
authors.affiliation: Paula Iruzubieta, Álvaro Terán, Javier Crespo, Emilio Fábrega, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: Paula Iruzubieta, Álvaro Terán, Javier Crespo, Emilio Fábrega, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fábrega
keywords: Cholecalciferol; Hepatitis C; Interferon; Liver disease; Liver fibrosis; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Sustained virological response; Vitamin D