Research Article Details

Article ID: A10495
PMID: 31311491
Source: BMC Gastroenterol
Title: Low vitamin D level was associated with metabolic syndrome and high leptin level in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a community-based study.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) parameters, such as metabolic syndrome (MS), inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, high sensitive C-reactive protein) and adipokines (adiponectin, leptin). METHODS: From August 2013 to August 2016, a community-based study was performed in the north-eastern region of Taiwan. All subjects received a demographic survey, blood testing and abdominal ultrasonography (US). The vitamin D level was evaluated by quartile divide or used the classification of deficiency (<&#8201;20&#8201;ng/ml), insufficiency (20-30&#8201;ng/ml) and sufficiency (>&#8201;30&#8201;ng/ml). RESULTS: Subjects were divided into NAFLD group and normal control (subjects number&#8201;=&#8201;564 in each group) following abdominal US study and matching age and gender. The mean age was 57.1&#8201;years in NAFLD group and 57.5 in control group. Subjects in NAFLD group had a lower mean vitamin D than those in the control group (28.5&#8201;&#177;&#8201;9.5&#8201;ng/ml vs. 29.9&#8201;&#177;&#8201;10.2&#8201;ng/ml, P&#8201;=&#8201;0.018). Subjects with serum vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency had higher odds for MS than those with sufficient vitamin D levels [deficiency vs. sufficiency, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =1.860 (95% CI&#8201;=&#8201;1.234-2.804), P&#8201;=&#8201;0.003; insufficiency vs. sufficiency, aOR&#8201;=&#8201;1.669 (95% CI&#8201;=&#8201;1.237-2.251), P&#8201;=&#8201;0.001]. Similarly, subjects in the lowest quartile of vitamin D had higher odds for MS than those in the highest quartile of vitamin D (aOR&#8201;=&#8201;2.792, 95% CI&#8201;=&#8201;1.719-4.538, P&#8201;<&#8201;0.001). Vitamin D level was positively correlated with age and male, but negatively correlated with serum leptin level. CONCLUSION: Subjects with low vitamin D level had higher odds for MS, but higher levels of leptin, compared to those with high vitamin D levels.
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-019-1040-y