The Association between Vitamin D Insufficiency and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

Previous studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the association between vitamin D insufficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We attempted to demonstrate this relationship using population-based data. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D level ≤20 ng/mL. Hepatic steatosis index was calculated to define NAFLD. Significant fibrosis was assessed using Body mass index, AST/ALT Ratio, Diabetes (BARD) score. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and NAFLD. Among 1812 participants, 409 (22.6%) had NAFLD. Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were more likely to be male (56.7%), had higher body mass index (28.1 kg/m2), and had more metabolic syndrome (57.2%). The proportion of vitamin D insufficiency did not differ between NAFLD and non-NAFLD (77.5% vs. 77.4%). Logistic regression analyses showed that BMI, diabetes, and triglyceride level were significantly associated with NAFLD, whereas vitamin D insufficiency was not related. Subgroup analyses involving non-obese participants, male participants, and participants without metabolic syndrome showed similar results. The BARD score and the proportion of significant fibrosis by BARD score did not differ according to vitamin D status. Vitamin D insufficiency was not associated with the presence of NAFLD as assessed by validated noninvasive prediction models.