International Journal of Medicine Research

Authors
Dr. Anil Batta

Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several adverse health outcomes, and vitamin D appears to have systemic antimicrobial effects that may be crucial in a variety of both acute and chronic illnesses. In addition to dietary recommendations for liver disease, a significant portion of people with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) take vitamins and herbs to support their liver. Despite this trend, researchers have confirmed that living with chronic Hepatitis C is usually accompanied by a vitamin D deficiency. Worried about the consequences of a vitamin D deficiency, those with the virus may choose to supplement with this vitamin. However, vitamin D is toxic in large doses and taking too much of it could end up being more harmful than not having enough. We analyzed the relationship of vitamin D status with advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) in CHC treatment-native patients and sustained virologic response (SVR) in CHC patients on pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFNa/ribavirin) therapy. In the present study, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels were compared among patients with chronic hepatitis c virus infection, naturally immunized individuals and control individuals. Twenty patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection (group I), 20 naturally immunized individuals (group II) and 20 healthy adults were included in the present study. Markers of hepatitis were measured using commercially available kits based on chemiluminescence assays. Routine biochemical parameters, hepatitis c virus serology, hepatitis B virus 25-OHD and parathyroid hormone levels were measured. Baseline characteristics of the study groups were comparable. Patients in group I had a lower 25-OHD level compared with group II and the control group (7.45±2.19 ng/mL versus 11±7.13 ng/mL and 17±9.18 ng/mL, respectively; P<0.001). In addition, patients in group I had a higher parathyroid hormone level compared with group II and the control group (78.21±31.2 ng/mL versus 55.14±23.4 ng/mL and 64.16±20.15 ng/mL, respectively; P=0.001). In patients infected with hepatitis c virus, diminished 25-OHD levels may be an indicator of the status of viral replication and portends a poor prognosis.