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. 2019 May;22(3):233-241.
doi: 10.5223/pghn.2019.22.3.233. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Suspected Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in an Adolescent Population

Young Hoon Cho  1 , Ju Whi Kim  1 , Jung Ok Shim  2 , Hye Ran Yang  1 , Ju Young Chang  1 , Jin Soo Moon  1 , Jae Sung Ko  1
Affiliations

Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Suspected Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in an Adolescent Population

Young Hoon Cho et al. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2019 May.

Abstract

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a condition widespread throughout the world. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents.

Methods: The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008-2014. A total of 3,878 adolescents were included in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <20 ng/mL and suspected NAFLD was defined as an alanine transaminase concentration >30 U/L.

Results: Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 78.9% of the studied population. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in adolescents with suspected NAFLD than in adolescents without suspected NAFLD, while the mean vitamin D level was significantly lower in adolescents with suspected NAFLD. The multivariate-adjusted odds of suspected NAFLD were higher with increased age, male gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Individuals with vitamin D deficiency were at higher risk of suspected NAFLD (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.95) after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with suspected NAFLD, independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome, in adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent; Alanine transaminase; Children; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity; Vitamin D deficiency.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. The density plot of log-transformed ALT levels in adolescents according to the presence or absence of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in adolescents with ALT levels above 30 U/L (p<0.01).
ALT: alanine transaminase.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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