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Association and interaction between vitamin D level and metabolic syndrome for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Association et interaction entre le statut en vitamine D et le syndrome métabolique pour la stéatose hépatique non alcoolique

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Abstract

Introduction/Objectives

Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association between hypovitaminosis D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study is to explore the individual and combined effect of hypovitaminosis D and metabolic syndrome (MS) on NAFLD.

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, 874 subjects were enrolled. 25(OH)D was assessed by a sequential competitive immuno-fluoro-assay method. The Fatty Liver Index (FLI) was used for NAFLD screening. Binary logistic regression and additive interaction were performed to investigate the association between vitamin D status, MS and NAFLD.

Results

Severe vitamin D deficiency was found to be positively related to NAFLD, with a higher risk in women than in men (OR = 6.4, 95% CI [2.8-15], p < 0.0001 vs. OR = 5.8, 95% CI [1.9-17.7], p = 0.002). In men, this association was partially masked by obesity. The additive interaction with MS was significant in women but not in men, the relative excess risk due to interaction was of 7.2, 95% CI [1.3-12.9], p = 0.02), the attributable proportion due to the combined effect was of 0.6, 95% CI [0.4-0.8], p < 0.0001. The interaction mechanism is synergistic; the synergy index: was of 2.9, 95% CI [1.6-5.3], p = 0.0006.

Conclusion

A positive association has been found between severe vitamin D deficiency and NAFLD. Moreover, an excess risk in women combining both MS and severe vitamin D deficiency was quantified.

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Acknowledgements

We wholeheartedly thank all patients and subjects for their generous participation in the present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Frantz Fanon Hospital, University Hospital center of Blida, 9000, Blida, Algeria

    Salam Bennouar & Samia Abdi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Center of Blida, 9000, Blida, Algeria

    Abdelghani Bachir Cherif

  3. Department of hemobiology and Blood Transfusion, University Hospital Center of Annaba, 23000, Annaba, Algeria

    Amel Kessira & Djamel Eddine Bennouar

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  1. Salam Bennouar
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  2. Abdelghani Bachir Cherif
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  3. Amel Kessira
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  4. Djamel Eddine Bennouar
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Correspondence to Salam Bennouar.

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Bennouar, S., Cherif, A.B., Kessira, A. et al. Association and interaction between vitamin D level and metabolic syndrome for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Diabetes Metab Disord 20, 1309–1317 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00857-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00857-5

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