Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Suspected Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in an Adolescent Population

Abstract

Purpose Vitamin D deficiency is a condition widespread throughout the world. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents. Methods The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008–2014. A total of 3,878 adolescents were included in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <20 ng/mL and suspected NAFLD was defined as an alanine transaminase concentration >30 U/L. Results Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 78.9% of the studied population. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in adolescents with suspected NAFLD than in adolescents without suspected NAFLD, while the mean vitamin D level was significantly lower in adolescents with suspected NAFLD. The multivariate-adjusted odds of suspected NAFLD were higher with increased age, male gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Individuals with vitamin D deficiency were at higher risk of suspected NAFLD (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.95) after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency was associated with suspected NAFLD, independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome, in adolescents.

New Perspectives in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Epidemiology, Genetics, Diagnosis, and Natural History

“…The risk factors for NAFLD were male gender, greater body mass index (BMI), and increased waist circumference [3]. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with pediatric NAFLD, independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome [4]. Studies using alanine aminotransferase (ALT) had a lower mean prevalence estimate than studies using ultrasound (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).…”

Vitamin D Level and Vitamin D Receptor Genetic Variation Were Involved in the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Case-Control Study

“…Accumulative evidence suggests that VD deficiency is highly prevalent among the general population in China (32), and low VD level is a risk factor of NAFLD (33). VD poses protective effects on many other metabolic-related diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (34)(35)(36).…”

Treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: from adult trials to perspectives in the management of children and adolescents

“…Nevertheless, there was a reduction in visceral (7.8%), epicardial (14.2%) and liver fat (53.4%) and improvement in MetS parameters [25]. Of note, recent data indicate that vitamin D deficiency is related to suspected NAFLD, independent of obesity and MetS in children/adolescents [26]. Nevertheless, although no noteworthy adverse events have been reported to date, the major concern regarding the use of vitamin D at treatment dose appears to be the risk of hypercalcemia, especially in children with high calcium consumption [27].…”