Vitamin D levels and chronic hepatitis C

SummaryBackground and purposeVitamin D (VitD) is involved in homeostasis of calcium and interacts with parathyroid hormone (PTH). Low levels of VitD in chronic liver diseases, in particular in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was reported. We aimed to determine the levels of VitD and PTH in patients with CHC without cirrhosis to evaluate the disturbance of VitD-PTH axis.MethodsWe conduced a case–control study enrolling 59 patients with CHC and 59 controls. We determined serum concentration of VitD, PTH, calcium and phosphate. VitD was quantified by chemiluminescence immunoassay. PTH was measured by 2-site chemiluminescent enzyme-labeled immunoassay.ResultsThe mean value of VitD was 26.28 and 28.43 ng/ml in HCV patients and controls respectively (p < 0.31). The distribution of the severity of VitD deficit in HCV population was the following: 5% had a deficiency, 64% had an insufficiency and 31% had normal levels. No difference was observed in the control group (p < 0.9). The mean value of PTH was 17.04 and 26.7 pg/ml in HCV patients and controls respectively (p < 0.0004). Calcium and phosphate were in the range of normality in both.ConclusionsThe VitD deficit is similar in HCV-patients and general population of the same geographic area. Therefore we can state that this is a public health problem.