Research Article Details
Article ID: | A21596 |
PMID: | 25195551 |
Source: | J Hepatol |
Title: | Relationship of vitamin D with insulin resistance and disease severity in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND & AIMS: The role of plasma vitamin D deficiency in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) remains poorly understood. Previous studies have suggested a role for vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH, but they have been rather small, and/or NAFLD was diagnosed using only aminotransferases or liver ultrasound. This study aimed to assess the role of vitamin D deficiency in relationship to liver fat accumulation and severity of NASH. METHODS: A total of 239 patients were recruited and state-of-the-art techniques were used to measure insulin resistance (euglycemic insulin clamp with 3-(3)H-glucose), liver fat accumulation (magnetic resonance spectroscopy or (1)H-MRS), total body fat (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), and severity of liver disease (liver biopsy). RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups according to plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (normal: >30 ng/ml; insufficiency: 20-30 ng/ml; deficiency: <20 ng/ml). When well-matched for clinical parameters (BMI, total adiposity, or prevalence of prediabetes/type 2 diabetes), no significant differences were observed among groups in terms of skeletal muscle, hepatic, or adipose tissue insulin sensitivity, the amount of liver fat by (1)H-MRS, or the severity of histological inflammation, ballooning, or fibrosis. Patients were then divided according to liver histology into those with definite NASH and those without NASH. Although patients with NASH had higher insulin resistance, plasma vitamin D concentrations were similar between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that plasma vitamin D levels are not associated with insulin resistance, the amount of liver fat accumulation, or the severity of NASH. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.08.040 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I02 | 5113 | Nutritional deficiency disease | A nutrition disease that is characterized by deficiency of a nutritional element, such as a vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate, protein, fat, or general energy content. https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/nutrition disease | Details |
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D387 | Vitamin D | Supplement | DB11094 | -- | Vitamin source drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D083 | CLA | Chemical drug | DB01211 | KCNH2; SLCO1B1; SLCO1B3 | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |