Association between vitamin D level and viral load or fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B patients from Southern China

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 566 - 574
• Main Authors: Yu, Rui, Sun, Jian, Zheng, Zhidan, Chen, Jian, Fan, Rong, Liang, Xieer, Zhu, Youfu, Liu, Ying, Shen, Sheng, Hou, Jinlin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; China - epidemiology; chronic hepatitis B; Cohort Studies; Female; Fibrosis; Genotype; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis B, Chronic - pathology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - virology; Humans; Infant; Liver - pathology; liver fibrosis; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Prevalence; Viral Load; vitamin D; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Young Adult; chronic hepatitis B; liver fibrosis; viral load; vitamin D; genotype
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12783

Background and Aim The role of vitamin D playing in patients with chronic hepatitis C has been intensively studied. However, studies on the potential interaction between vitamin D level and chronic hepatitis B are still limited. This study aimed to explore whether any association existed between serum vitamin D level and liver histology or virological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection in Southern China. Methods 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D serum levels were determined in a cohort of 242 treatment‐naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Histologic assessment was based on Knodell histologic activity index and Ishak fibrosis staging. Predictors of vitamin D insufficiency were identified using multivariate analysis. Results Mean 25‐hydroxyvitamin D value was 33.90 ng/mL. The percentage of patients with different concentration of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (≥ 30 ng/mL, 20–30 ng/mL, < 20 ng/mL) were 59.9%, 31.4%, and 8.7%, respectively. Gender, season, age, and viral genotype were independent predictors of vitamin D insufficiency (< 30 ng/mL). Patients with genotype B virus infection had a lower mean 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level (P = 0.023) and higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency than those with genotype C (P = 0.021), while no association was found between vitamin D status and viral load. In addition, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level did not significantly vary according to activity grade or fibrosis stage. Conclusions The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is relatively low in our cohort. Patients infected with genotype B had a higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency than genotype C. 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D serum level is not associated with viral load or fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B patients.