Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is independently associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Aug;23(8):792-8. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2012.12.006. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

Abstract

Background and aims: We sought to explore associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] in an integrated healthcare delivery system in the U.S.

Methods and results: Six hundred and seven NAFLD cases were randomly matched 1:1 with controls for age, sex, race and season of measurement. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate if serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased odds of NAFLD (diagnosed by ultrasound) after adjusting for body mass index and history of diabetes, renal, peripheral vascular and liver diseases (model 1) and also for hypertension (model 2). Mean (SD) serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the group with NAFLD as compared with that in the matched control group (75 ± 17 vs. 85 ± 20 nmol/L [30 ± 7 vs. 34 ± 8 ng/mL], P<0.001). Inadequate 25(OH)D status progressively increased the odds of NAFLD when classified categorically as sufficient (25(OH)D 75 nmol/L [>30 ng/mL], reference group), insufficient (37-75 nmol/L [15-30 ng/mL]; adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90-6.34) or deficient (<37 nmol/L [<15 ng/mL]; adjusted OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.27-5.19). When modeled as a continuous variable, increased log10 25(OH)D was inversely associated with the risk of prevalent NAFLD (adjusted OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.064-0.96, P=0.02).

Conclusion: Compared with matched controls, patients with NAFLD have significantly decreased serum 25(OH)D levels, suggesting that low 25(OH)D status might play a role in the development and progression of NAFLD.

Keywords: 25(OH)D; Fatty liver; Inflammation; NAFLD; Risk factors; Vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Fatty Liver / complications
  • Fatty Liver / diagnosis
  • Fatty Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Fatty Liver / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D