Molecular Crosstalk Between Vitamin D and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. The worldwide increasing prevalence of NAFLD has become a cause of concern for clinicians. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of NAFLD pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Moreover, therapeutic interventions are presently limited. Balanced diet, physical exercise and lifestyle modifications have been recommended. Several studies have revealed that vitamin D deficiency is correlated with NAFLD, and it's supplementation may play a vital role in this regard. Sufficient information was obtained from full articles written in the English language, and accessible in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. The increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency remains as a global health risk factor, and this is linked to NAFLD pathogenesis. In vitro and in vivo studies, and clinical trials have revealed the beneficial role of vitamin D supplementation to control NAFLD. Vitamin D potentially regulates the molecular pathways associated with NAFLD risk factors, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. It acts on adipocytes to control free fatty acid (FFA) trafficking, lipogenesis, and inflammation. Similarly, vitamin D acts on hepatocytes to reduce de novo lipogenesis and cellular FFA trafficking. Furthermore, it acts on pancreatic β-cells to improve insulin secretion, cell survival, and cellular functions. Vitamin D supplementation improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity. In addition, it decreases inflammation and liver injury, and acts on mitochondria to control reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cellular toxicity. Vitamin D deficiency is a major risk factor for NAFLD pathogenesis. Thus, there is an urgent need to conduct molecular level analysis for further discernments.