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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 May 10;8(5):278.
doi: 10.3390/nu8050278.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Cirrhotic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stefan Pilz  1 , Csilla Putz-Bankuti  2   3 , Martin Gaksch  4 , Walter Spindelboeck  5 , Marius Haselberger  6 , Florian Rainer  7 , Andreas Posch  8 , Philipp Kreuzer  9 , Tatjana Stojakovic  10 , Vanessa Stadlbauer  11 , Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch  12 , Rudolf E Stauber  13
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Cirrhotic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stefan Pilz et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: The liver is crucial for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) metabolism, and vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with cirrhosis and predicts adverse outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation in patients with cirrhosis is effective in increasing 25(OH)D serum concentrations. Secondary outcome measures included liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (AP)), albumin, International Normalized Ratio (INR), bilirubin, the liver fibrosis marker hyaluronic acid, and parameters of mineral metabolism including parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Methods: This is a double-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted from December 2013 to May 2014 at the Medical University of Graz, and the hospital Hoergas-Enzenbach, Austria. We enrolled 36 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and 25(OH)D concentrations below 30 ng/mL. Study participants were randomly allocated to receive either 2800 International Units of vitamin D3 per day as oily drops (n = 18) or placebo (n = 18) for 8 weeks.

Results: Thirty-three study participants (mean (SD) age: 60 (9) years; 21% females; 25(OH)D: 15.6 (7.4) ng/mL) completed the trial. The mean treatment effect (95% CI) for 25(OH)D was 15.2 (8.0 to 22.4) ng/mL (p < 0.001). There was no significant effect on any secondary outcome.

Conclusions: In this randomized controlled trial, vitamin D supplementation increases 25(OH)D serum concentrations, even in cirrhotic patients.

Keywords: RCT; intervention; liver; supplementation; vitamin D.

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Figures

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Figure 1
Participant flow chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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