Correlation Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Severity of Liver Disease among Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract

Background: Data from many studies suggest that deficiency of vitamin D has got role in pathophysiology of cirrhosis. Though the vitamin D deficiency has strong assossiation with chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis, yet its relation with development of advanced liver fibrosis is still controversial. The objective of our research was to determine the correlation between deficiency of vitamin D (< 30 ng/ml) and severity of liver disease among cirrhotic patients. Methods: Levels of Vitamin D were evaluated in 125 patients suffering from Chronic Liver Disease. The participants were categorized in three groups on the basis of Child-Pugh scoring system: A, B and C. The association of vitamin D levels with Child-Pugh grade and additional variables in the research was calculated by the contingency coefficient and chi-square by means of p-values. Results: Amongst the patients, 65.6% had scarce or deficient levels of vitamin D, 23.2% had inadequate values of Vitamin D and remaining 11.2% had adequate stores of vitamin D (p > 0.05). Levels of vitamin D were remarkably associated with Child-Pugh class (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A decreased level of Vitamin D is markedly associated with severity of liver disease. Vitamin D levels must be regularly monitored in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B and C) and this deficiency should be corrected well in time for improvement of prognosis in patients having hepatic cirrhosis.