Vitamin D and histologic severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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#biomarkers #humans #liver #non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease #risk-factors

Vitamin D and histologic severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jaruvongvanich et al., 2017 | Dig Liver Dis | Meta Analysis

Citation

Jaruvongvanich Veeravich, Ahuja Wasin, ... Upala Sikarin. Vitamin D and histologic severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dig Liver Dis. 2017-Jun;49(6):618-622. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2017.02.003

Abstract

BACKGROUND: NAFLD and vitamin D deficiency often coexist and epidemiologic evidence has shown that both of these conditions share several risk factors. Recent studies investigating the relationship between vitamin D levels and severity of NAFLD showed conflicting results. Thus we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate association between vitamin D and NAFLD histologic severity. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the databases of the MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed from inception through November 2016. Observational studies compared serum vitamin D levels among NAFLD patients with high and low histologic severity, which was determined by NAFLD activity score (NAS) and fibrosis score. We calculated pooled mean difference (MD) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random-effects model. RESULTS: Data were extracted from 6 studies involving 974 NAFLD patients. There was no difference in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among NAFLD patients with high NAS (score of ≥5) versus low NAS (pooled MD=-0.93, 95%CI -2.45 to 0.58, I2=0%) and also high fibrosis score (score of ≥3) versus low fibrosis score (pooled MD=0.88, 95%CI -2.65 to 4.42, I2=64%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence implicating vitamin D in NAFLD pathogenesis, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D may not be associated with NAFLD histologic severity.

Key Findings

Data were extracted from 6 studies involving 974 NAFLD patients. There was no difference in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among NAFLD patients with high NAS (score of ≥5) versus low NAS (pooled MD=-0.93, 95%CI -2.45 to 0.58, I2=0%) and also high fibrosis score (score of ≥3) versus low fibrosis score (pooled MD=0.88, 95%CI -2.65 to 4.42, I2=64%).

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population high and low histologic
Sample Size 6
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09