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Meta-analysis: vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Meta-analysis: vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

M. Eliades, E. Spyrou, N. Agrawal, M. Lazo, F. L. Brancati, J. J. Potter, A. A. Koteish, J. M. Clark, E. Guallar and R. Hernaez
Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, v 38(3), pp 246-254
Aug 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.12377
PMID: 23786213
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.12377View
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Abstract

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Pharmacology & Pharmacy Science & Technology
Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent condition. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Aim To review systematically the association between vitamin D levels, measured as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) D], and NAFLD. Methods We used PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify all studies that assessed the association between vitamin D and NAFLD up until 22 April 2013, without language restrictions. We included studies that compared vitamin D levels between NAFLD cases and controls and also those that compared the odds of vitamin D deficiency by NAFLD status. Pooled standardised differences and odds ratios were calculated using an inverse variance method. Results Seventeen cross-sectional and case-control studies have evaluated the association between vitamin D and NAFLD. NAFLD was diagnosed using biopsy (4 studies), ultrasound or CT (10 studies) and liver enzymes (3 studies). Nine studies provided data for a quantitative meta-analysis. Compared to controls, NAFLD patients had 0.36 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.32, 0.40 ng/mL) lower levels of 25(OH) D and were 1.26 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.35). Conclusions NAFLD patients have decreased serum 25(OH) D concentrations, suggesting that vitamin D may play a role in the development of NAFLD. The directionality of this association cannot be determined from cross-sectional studies. Demonstration of a causal role of hypovitaminosis D in NAFLD development in future studies could have important therapeutic implications.

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