Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) reduced somewhat by 50,000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks – RCT Sept 2014

Does vitamin D improve liver enzymes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? A randomized clinical trial.

Endocrine. 2014 Sep;47(1):70-80. doi: 10.1007/s12020-014-0336-5. Epub 2014 Jun 27.
Sharifi N1, Amani R, Hajiani E, Cheraghian B.
1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, sharifi.nsr at gmail.com.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum aminotransferases, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adult patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Fifty-three patients with NAFLD were enrolled in a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either one oral pearl consisting of 50,000 IU vitamin D3 (n = 27) or a placebo (n = 26), every 14 days for 4 months. Serum aminotransferases, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor α, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, transforming growth factor β1, as well as grade of hepatic steatosis and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were assessed pre- and post-intervention. In patients who received vitamin D supplement compared to the controls, the median of serum 25(OH)D3 significantly increased (16.2 vs. 1.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001).

This increase accompanied by significant decrease in serum MDA (-2.09 vs. -1.23 ng/ml, P = 0.03) and near significant changes in serum hs-CRP (-0.25 vs. 0.22 mg/l, P = 0.06).

These between-group differences remained significant even after controlling for baseline covariates. Other variables showed no significant changes. Improved vitamin D status led to amelioration in serum hs-CRP and MDA in patients with NAFLD. This might be considered as an adjunctive therapy to attenuate systemic inflammation and lipid peroxidation alongside other treatments for NAFLD patients.

PMID: 24968737

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