Influencing factors on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients.
BACKGROUND
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are generally lower in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study is to clarify the factors which affect serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels using data obtained from Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients.


METHODS
The subjects were 619 chronic hepatitis C patients. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were measured by using double-antibody radioimmunoassay between April 2009 and August 2014. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels of 20 ng/mL or less were classified as vitamin D deficiency, and those with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels of 30 ng/mL or more as vitamin D sufficiency. The relationship between patient-related factors and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels was analyzed.


RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 305 females and 314 males, aged between 18 and 89 years (median, 63 years). The median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level was 21 ng/mL (range, 6-61 ng/mL). On the other hand, the median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level in the healthy subjects was 25 ng/mL (range, 7-52), being significantly higher than that those in 80 chronic hepatitis C patients matched for age, gender, and season (p = 1.16 × 10(-8)). In multivariate analysis, independent contributors to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 deficiency were as follows: female gender (p = 2.03 × 10(-4), odds ratio = 2.290, 95 % confidence interval = 1.479-3.545), older age (p = 4.30 × 10(-4), odds ratio = 1.038, 95 % confidence interval = 1.017-1.060), cold season (p = 0.015, odds ratio = 1.586, 95 % confidence interval = 1.095-2.297), and low hemoglobin level (p = 0.037, odds ratio = 1.165, 95 % confidence interval = 1.009-1.345). By contrast, independent contributors to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 sufficiency were male gender (p = 0.001, odds ratio = 3.400, 95 % confidence interval = 1.635-7.069), warm season (p = 0.014, odds ratio = 1.765, 95 % confidence interval = 1.117-2.789) and serum albumin (p = 0.016, OR = 2.247, 95 % CI = 1.163-4.342).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in chronic hepatitis C Japanese patients were influenced by gender, age, hemoglobin level, albumin and the season of measurement.
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. momogachi@yahoo.co.jp.
Masanori
M
Atsukawa
Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Sciences, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. atsubo@jikei.ac.jp.
Akihito
A
Tsubota
Chiba Tokushukai Hospital, 2-11-1 Takanedai, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. noritomos@hotmail.com.
Noritomo
N
Shimada
Machida Municipal Hospital, 2-15-41 Asahi-cho, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. kaiyoshiza@yahoo.co.jp.
Kai
K
Yoshizawa
Jikei University School of Medicine Katsusika Medical Center, 6-41-2 Aoto, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan. hiroshiabe222@aol.com.
Hiroshi
H
Abe
Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, 4-23-15 Koutoubashi, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. tasanobkttokyo@yahoo.co.jp.
Toru
T
Asano
Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital, 3-6-1 shimosueyoshi, Tsurumi, Kanagawa, Japan. yusuke-ohkubo@mtg.biglobe.ne.jp.
Yusuke
Y
Ohkubo
Ibaraki Central Hospital, Kasama, 6528, Koihuchi, Ibaraki, Japan. ma-araki@chubyoin.pref.ibaraki.jp.
Masahiro
M
Araki
Tokyo Medical University, Ibaraki Medical Center, 3-20-1 amichochuo, Inashiki, Ibaraki, Japan. ikegamit@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
Tadashi
T
Ikegami
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. s8042@hotmail.co.jp.
Chisa
C
Kondo
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. mid@mtc.biglobe.ne.jp.
Norio
N
Itokawa
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. a0520i@nms.ac.jp.
Ai
A
Nakagawa
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. taeang@yahoo.co.jp.
Taeang
T
Arai
Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. yokoymym18s@yahoo.co.jp.
Yoko
Y
Matsushita
Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. kaynet@nms.ac.jp.
Katsuhisa
K
Nakatsuka
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan. tomomif@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
Tomomi
T
Furihata
Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, 4-23-15 Koutoubashi, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. chuganji@gmail.com.
Yoshimichi
Y
Chuganji
Tokyo Medical University, Ibaraki Medical Center, 3-20-1 amichochuo, Inashiki, Ibaraki, Japan. ymatsuzaki-gi@umin.ac.jp.
Yasushi
Y
Matsuzaki
Jikei University School of Medicine Katsusika Medical Center, 6-41-2 Aoto, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan. aichanyoshi@yahoo.co.jp.
Yoshio
Y
Aizawa
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715, Inzai, Chiba, Japan. k-iwa@nms.ac.jp.
Katsuhiko
K
Iwakiri
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012737:Sex Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002112:Calcifediol