Fatty liver disease affects approximately one-quarter of the world’s population and is frequently seen in people with obesity.
In addition to its fundamental role in maintaining bone health, vitamin D has other important functions, such as regulating immune function (the body’s defenses) and exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.
What is the relationship between vitamin D and fatty liver disease?
Regarding fatty liver disease, low levels are known to be associated with a higher prevalence and severity of the disease, as well as an increased risk of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of developing fatty liver disease, and patients with this condition have significantly lower vitamin D levels than healthy individuals. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation can improve metabolic and hepatic parameters in patients with fatty liver disease (glucose, triglyceride, and transaminase levels). Approximately 20 percent of people with fatty liver disease are of normal weight (body mass index less than 25 kg/m²). Patients with fatty liver disease and normal weight differ from those with both fatty liver disease and obesity in their mechanisms of injury.
The Annals of Medicine journal has published a study to determine whether vitamin D also plays an important role in patients with this disease and normal weight. The study included 211 patients with fatty liver and normal weight, and 3,990 as controls. The study demonstrated that vitamin D also plays a significant role in patients with fatty liver disease who are not overweight.
In summary, vitamin D plays an important role in fatty liver disease. At our Foundation, the doctors, including Dr. Carreño, take this fact into account and measure vitamin D levels in all our patients with fatty liver disease. If levels are low, we administer vitamin D supplements.
