Association between vitamin D status and depression in children with chronic liver disease

Abstract

Background Deficiency of vitamin D and depression are commonly occurring in patients with chronic liver diseases. This study aimed to determine the association between 25-OH-vitamin D status and depressive symptoms among children with chronic liver diseases. Eighty children were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the patients’ group (60 children with chronic hepatitis) and the control group (20 healthy children). All children have been analyzed for their clinical, biochemical features, histological profile, serum 25-OH-vitamin D levels, and assessment of childhood depression using Arabic form based on Kovacs Children’s Depression Inventory. Results Serum level of 25(OH) D was significantly lower in the hepatic group than the control group [17 (5–52) ng/ml, 45 (13–95) ng/ml, p = <0001 respectively]. Depression score was significantly higher in the hepatic group as 30% of the control group had mild depression, while 36.7% of the hepatic group had mild depression, 16.7% had moderate depression, and 10% had severe depression. There was a statistically significant difference between children with depressive symptoms and non-depressive symptoms as regards the level of serum vitamin D as it was lower in children with depressive symptoms [median (range) 17 (5–40) ng/ml, 27.5 (8–52) ng/ml, p = 0.04 respectively]. There were statistically significant differences between the serum level of 25(OH) D and depression as it decreases with increasing severity of depression. Conclusion Children with chronic liver disease who had depressive symptoms showed significantly lower levels of vitamin D when compared with those without depressive symptoms; also, vitamin D had an inverse correlation with depression scores in these children.

A Study on Vitamin D Status and its Correlation with Severity in Children with Chronic Liver Disease Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

“…In this present study it was observed that there was inverse but not significant Pearson's correlation (r = -0.316; p = 0.312) between serum Vitamin D and INR. Similarly, Behairy., et al [5] also found there was a statistically…”

“…In this current study it was observed that 20.0% patients had abdomen examination tenderness, 90.0% had liver palpable, 80.0% spleen palpable and all 100.0% patients had ascites. Behairy., et al [5] study found ascites 6.6% in CLD patients and Jha., et al [8] study showed almost all patients (100%) had ascites in patients with CLD, which support with the current study.…”

“…Behairy., et al [5] observed the CLD patients presented clinically with jaundice 66.6%. In another study Jha., et al [8] showed that majority (80.0%) patients had jaundice, however Buonomo., et al…”