Is there an association between vitamin D and liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C?

Abstract

BACKGROUND Vitamin D is known for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties, which are quite relevant in the pathogenesis and treatment of many causes of chronic liver disease. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and the histopathological findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS Cross-sectional study composed of patients with chronic hepatitis C. All patients underwent vitamin D 25 dosage and anthropometric data analysis. Liver biopsy was performed in a maximum 36-month period before inclusion in the study. RESULTS Of the 74 patients included in the study, 45 (60.8%) were women, mean age was 57.03±9.24 years, and 63 (85.1%) were white. No association was observed between the serum levels of vitamin D and inflammatory activity (P=0.699) nor with the degree of liver fibrosis (P=0.269). CONCLUSION In this study, no association was observed between vitamin D and inflammatory activity, as well as the degree of liver fibrosis, in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Controversial Effects of Vitamin D and Related Genes on Viral Infections, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Outcomes

“…For example, treatment-naive Chinese HCV patients failed to show any correlation between serum levels of 25(OH)D 3 and 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 and liver fibrosis [54]. Oliveira et al and Esmat et al also reported no significant association between VD serum levels and inflammatory activity or the degree of liver fibrosis [55,59]. Another clinical study also suggested that VD deficiency was not responsible for poor virological characteristics in HCV patients [36].…”

Vitamin D Influences the Activity of Mast Cells in Allergic Manifestations and Potentiates Their Effector Functions against Pathogens

“…According to Berkan-Kawińska et al [ 121 ], even though those with chronic hepatitis C or chronic hepatitis B may have insufficient levels of 25(OH)D, there is no evidence that these deficiencies lead to a worse prognosis for patients. Additionally, studies have shown no link between vitamin D levels in blood and liver fibrosis [ 122 , 123 ] or poor responses to anti-viral treatments for HCV infection [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ]. It is worth noting that the levels of 25(OH)D3 did not seem to affect the effectiveness of the treatment in the African-American population [ 129 ].…”

Dynamics in Main Clinical and Immunological Indicators in Patients With Comorbidity of Chronic Hepatitis C and Chronic Pancreatitis Following Integrated Therapy Including Vitamin D

“…За даними літератури відомо, що поширеність недостатності вітаміну D серед хворих на ХГС становить від 39,2% до 71%, а серед хворих на ХП -від 22% до 86,6% [7,8]. Bakstedt et al, Oliveira et al повідомляли, що сироватковий рівень вітаміну D може впливати на природній перебіг ХГС, а саме -на інтенсивність запалення та фіброгенезу [9,10]. Розвиток дефіциту вітаміну D при ХГС коморбідному з ХП пов'язаний зі зниженням його кишкової абсорбції, порушенням зв'язку з транспортними білками, порушенням гідроксилювання вітаміну D в гепатоцитах, результатом чого є зниження кількості його активних метаболічних форм [7].…”