Association of seasonality and serum albumin concentration with vitamin D deficiency in subjects with chronic hepatitis C infection living in a sunny country

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to analyse the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the season when the blood sample was obtained from subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection.Design:A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration <50 nmol/l, based on the values set forth by the Endocrine Society guideline for higher-risk populations. Seasonality was defined according to solstices and equinoxes. The association of seasonality and clinical/laboratory characteristics with vitamin D deficiency was assessed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Setting:NUPAIG Viral Hepatitis Outpatient Clinic of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo – Brazil.Participants:Adult subjects with CHC infection (n 306).Results:The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 16 %, whereas the median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 87 (interquartile range, 59; third quartile = 118) nmol/l. Serum concentration was consistently lower in samples collected in spring and winter than in other seasons. In multivariate analysis, vitamin D deficiency was found to be independently associated with male gender, serum albumin concentration and with samples drawn in winter and spring.Conclusions:The findings show not only the relevance to consider season as a factor influencing 25(OH)D concentration but also the need to actively screen for hypovitaminosis D in all patients with CHC infection, especially in females and those with low albumin concentration.

The Variability of Vitamin D Concentrations in Short Children with Short Stature from Central Poland—The Effects of Insolation, Supplementation, and COVID-19 Pandemic Isolation

“…Similar conclusions have been drawn from other papers published in recent years. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were higher during the summer–autumn seasons compared to the winter–spring seasons [ 12 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. The highest prevalence of serum 25(OH)D below 20.0 ng/mL in Greek adults was found in the spring season, precisely in March, by Dimakopoulos et al [ 33 ].…”

Variability in response to vitamin D supplementation according to vitamin D metabolism related gene polymorphisms in healthy adults

“…Genetic differences in production, transportation and degradation of 25(OH)D resulting in differences in 25(OH)D at baseline seem to affect the handling of additional vitD supplements. Thus, different SNPs significantly influenced the response to vitD supplementation [ 1 , 7 , 14 ]. Three SNPs (rs4588, rs10766197 and rs12794714; p < 0.05), have shown to be significantly involved in response variation to vitD supplementation.…”