Malham M, Jørgensen SP, Ott P, Agnholt J, Vilstrup H, Borre M, Dahlerup JF. Vitamin D deficiency in cirrhosis relates to liver dysfunction rather than aetiology. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17(7): 922-925 [PMID: 21412501 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i7.922]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mikkel Malham, MD, Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, 44 Noerrebrogade, Building 1C, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. mikkel.malham@gmail.com
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Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2011; 17(7): 922-925 Published online Feb 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i7.922
Vitamin D deficiency in cirrhosis relates to liver dysfunction rather than aetiology
Mikkel Malham, Søren Peter Jørgensen, Peter Ott, Jørgen Agnholt, Hendrik Vilstrup, Mette Borre, Jens F Dahlerup
Mikkel Malham, Søren Peter Jørgensen, Peter Ott, Jørgen Agnholt, Hendrik Vilstrup, Mette Borre, Jens F Dahlerup, Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
Author contributions: Malham M wrote the protocol, carried out the study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; All authors contributed to the study design, data interpretation and analysis, preparation of the manuscript, and critical review; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mikkel Malham, MD, Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, 44 Noerrebrogade, Building 1C, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. mikkel.malham@gmail.com
Telephone: +45-31121035 Fax: +45-89492740
Received: August 26, 2010 Revised: October 16, 2010 Accepted: October 23, 2010 Published online: February 21, 2011
Abstract
AIM: To examine the vitamin D status in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis compared to those with primary biliary cirrhosis.
METHODS: Our retrospective case series comprised 89 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 34 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who visited our outpatient clinic in 2005 and underwent a serum vitamin D status assessment.
RESULTS: Among the patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 85% had serum vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L and 55% had levels below 25 nmol/L, as compared to 60% and 16% of the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, respectively (P < 0.001). In both groups, serum vitamin D levels decreased with increasing liver disease severity, as determined by the Child-Pugh score.
CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency in cirrhosis relates to liver dysfunction rather than aetiology, with lower levels of vitamin D in alcoholic cirrhosis than in primary biliary cirrhosis.
