Half of obese children had fatty liver and low vitamin D – March 2014

Role of Vitamin D in Children With Hepatosteatosis.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Yildiz I1, Erol OB, Toprak S, Cantez MS, Omer B, Kilic A, Oguz F, Uysalol M, Yekeler E, Unuvar E.
1*Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey †Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey ‡Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey §Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkey ¶Istanbul University, Institute of Child Health, Department of Social Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey #Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION::
The increasing incidence of obesity in children is a significant risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity-associated morbidity. Vitamin D has a major role in bone mineral metabolism and has antimicrobial, antioxidant properties. In this study we aimed to investigate the role of vitamin D in obese children with hepatosteatosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS::
One hundred and one children with obesity were included in this study. Hepatosteatosis was diagnosed and graded using ultrasonography. Serum levels of 25-(OH) vitamin D, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone were tested. Two-sided t-test and Pearson's chi square tests were used for the relationship between vitamin D and hepatosteatosis.

RESULTS::
In our study group, 45.5% were female (n = 46) and the mean age was 11.5 ± 2.8 (range: 3-17 years). Hepatosteatosis was identified in 58 children (57.4%). Diagnosis of grade 1 and grade 2 hepatosteatosis were made in forty one (40.6%) and seventeen (16.8%) children, respectively. Median serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels in children without hepatosteatosis was 16.4 ng/mL (interquartile range: 12.4-24.8 ng/mL), whereas children with grade 1 and grade 2 hepatosteatosis had 25-(OH) vitamin D levels of 14.2 ng/mL (interquartile range: 9.5-21.2 ng/mL) and 11.5 ng/mL (interquartile range: 7.5-16.7 ng/mL) respectively (p = 0.005). There was a positive correlation between insulin resistance and the grade of hepatosteatosis (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS::
Serum vitamin D levels in obese children with hepatosteatosis are significantly lower than vitamin D levels in obese children without hepatosteatosis. In this observational study we only refer to the association of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency with hepatosteatosis.

PMID: 24647335

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Summary table by VitaminDWiki – all children were obese

Hepatosteatosis	% of children	Vitamin D
None	43%	16.4 ng
Level 1	41%	14.2 ng
Level 2	17%	11.5 ng

See also VitaminDWiki

• Search for Fatty Liver in VitaminDWiki 316 items July 2017
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (4 in 10 seniors) and Vitamin D
• Fatty liver disease associated with low level of vitamin D – Oct 2013
• Fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome, and perhaps vitamin D – June 2013
• Important interactions between the liver and vitamin D – May 2013
• Strong association of non alcoholic fatty liver disease and low vitamin D
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with low vitamin D – independent of BMI – June 2014

Pages listed in BOTH the categories Obesity and Liver