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Does vitamin D improve liver enzymes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? A randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum aminotransferases, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adult patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fifty-three patients with NAFLD were enrolled in a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either one oral pearl consisting of 50,000 IU vitamin D3 (n = 27) or a placebo (n = 26), every 14 days for 4 months. Serum aminotransferases, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor α, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, transforming growth factor β1, as well as grade of hepatic steatosis and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were assessed pre- and post-intervention. In patients who received vitamin D supplement compared to the controls, the median of serum 25(OH)D3 significantly increased (16.2 vs. 1.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001). This increase accompanied by significant decrease in serum MDA (−2.09 vs. −1.23 ng/ml, P = 0.03) and near significant changes in serum hs-CRP (−0.25 vs. 0.22 mg/l, P = 0.06). These between-group differences remained significant even after controlling for baseline covariates. Other variables showed no significant changes. Improved vitamin D status led to amelioration in serum hs-CRP and MDA in patients with NAFLD. This might be considered as an adjunctive therapy to attenuate systemic inflammation and lipid peroxidation alongside other treatments for NAFLD patients.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by a Grant (No. RDC-9105) from Vice-Chancellor for Research Affairs of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and approved by the Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of the Digestive System, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Also, it was a part of PhD thesis of Nasrin Sharifi, student of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The authors wish to thank Dr. Amir Hossein Sina from Danesh Lab in Ahvaz for his kind help in laboratory test assessment. We also thank Mr. Amir Mansour Vatankhah, and Dr. Mehran Messgari for their cooperation in measuring biochemical factors.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Nasrin Sharifi

  2. Department of Nutrition, Health Research Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Reza Amani

  3. Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of the Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Eskandar Hajiani

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran

    Bahman Cheraghian

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  1. Nasrin Sharifi
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Correspondence to Reza Amani.

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Sharifi, N., Amani, R., Hajiani, E. et al. Does vitamin D improve liver enzymes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? A randomized clinical trial. Endocrine 47, 70–80 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-014-0336-5

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