Oral vitamin D replacement is effective in chronic liver disease

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2010 Nov;34(11):618-20. doi: 10.1016/j.gcb.2010.07.009.

Abstract

Background & aims: End-stage chronic liver disease is associated with vitamin D deficiency but the prevalence across a broad-spectrum of liver disease is unknown. This study prospectively examines prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and response to replacement in chronic liver disease.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight outpatients with chronic liver disease were enrolled. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were classified as: severely deficient less than 25 nmol/l, deficient 25-54 nmol/l or replete greater than 54 nmol/l. Sixty-five of 158 (41%) had cirrhosis.

Results: 25[OH]D was suboptimal in 101/158 (64%), including severe deficiency in 24 patients (15%). Vitamin D deficiency occurred in liver disease of all aetiologies, including patients with only mild liver disease. 25[OH]D increased by 60.0% (19.11 ± 13.20 nmol/l) in patients with deficiency after vitamin D replacement and decreased by 25.2% (-18.33 ± 12.02 nmol/l) in non-treated initially replete patients over a median of 4 months.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency improves with oral vitamin D supplementation and levels fall without supplementation. Chronic liver disease patients are at very high risk of vitamin D deficiency regardless of etiology or severity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / blood
  • Liver Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Liver Diseases / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatients
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / drug therapy*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D