New insight of vitamin D in chronic liver diseases

摘要

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble sterol derivative that is predominantly synthesized in the liver and has multiple functions. The accumulative data showed that the clinical manifestations and prognosis of chronic liver diseases are associated with serum vitamin D levels. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed and Google Scholar search using terms: "vitamin D", "25(OH)D", "liver disease", "viral hepatitis", "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease", "liver ifbrosis", "cirrhosis", "hepatocellular  carcinoma"  and  "autoimmune  liver  disease" was  performed,  and  relevant  articles  published  in  English between January 2000 and March 2014 were reviewed. Full-text publications relevant to the ifeld were selected and relevant articles from reference lists were also included. RESULTS: The  insufifciency  or  deifciency  of  vitamin  D  is common in various kinds of chronic liver diseases including viral hepatitis B and C. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D receptors are possibly interrelated with the incidence, treatment and prognosis of diseases. Though the evidence of vitamin D supplementation in viral hepatitis and associated liver diseases is still limited, there is great potential to apply this adjuvant therapy to improve the treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Although  the  exact  role  and  mechanisms of vitamin D have not been fully elucidated in chronic liver diseases, it is potentially beneifcial in the treatment of chronic liver  diseases.  Further  mechanistic  studies  are  needed  to validate its clinical application.