The worse the chronic liver disease, the lower the vitamin D level – Review Dec 2012

Vitamin D in chronic liver disease

Liver International Dec 2012
Caroline S. Stokes 1, Dietrich A. Volmer 2, Frank Grünhage 1, Frank Lammert 1,*
1 Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
2 Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
* Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. med. Frank Lammert, Department of Medicine II
Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421 Homburg, Germany
Phone: +49-6841-16-23201; Fax: +49-6841-16-23267; Email: frank.lammert at uks.eu
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Background
Chronic liver disease (CLD) and several related extrahepatic manifestations such as hepatic osteodystrophy are associated with deficiency of vitamin D, which has therefore been suggested as therapeutic target. Vitamin D undergoes hepatic 25-hydroxylation, rendering the liver critical to the metabolic activation of this vitamin. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in CLD patients, and vitamin D levels are inversely related to the severity of CLD. Declining levels of carrier proteins such as albumin and vitamin D binding protein might also be critical in CLD. Intervention studies report improvements of CLD following supplementation, and benefits to health outcomes in particular with respect to hepatitis C virus infection have recently been documented.

Content
We discuss vitamin D sources, functions and metabolism with a focus on the inherent complications of analytical measurements, such as the interference of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D C-3 epimers. Global discrepancies in the definition of optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are covered, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in CLD is reviewed. We also address the functional mechanism underlying this deficiency, and refer to associations between genetic variation in vitamin D metabolism and CLD. Lastly, we focus on health implications of a vitamin D deficiency in CLD and consider therapeutic options.

Summary
Herein, we focus on the epidemiological and functional relationships between vitamin D deficiency and CLD, followed by a discussion of the potential implications for therapeutic interventions in clinical practice.

Provisional PDF is attached at the bottom of this page

See also VitaminDWiki

• Overview Liver and vitamin D
• All Liver items and Vitamin D 102 items
• Alcoholic liver cirrhosis treated by 1,000 IU of vitamin D – July 2018