Relationship between Vitamin D Concentration and Lipid Concentration in Patients with NAFLD in the Hulunbuir Region of China.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to characterize the relationship between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and the circulating lipid concentrations of patients with NAFLD in the Hulunbuir region of China. METHODS: One hundred fifty-six patients, who were diagnosed with NAFLD in the Physical Examination Department of the Second Clinical College of Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities between January 2021 and March 2023, were recruited as NAFLD group, and 160 healthy people were recruited as a control group during the same period. The serum 25(OH)VitD, TBIL, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, AST, ALT, GGT, and FPG activities of the participants were measured, and hepatic ultrasonography was performed. RESULTS: The BMI of the NAFLD group was higher than of the control group (p < 0.05). The serum 25(OH)VitD3 (p < 0.05) and the HDL-C concentrations of the NAFLD group were lower than those of the normal control group. However, the AST (p < 0.05), ALT (p < 0.05), and GGT (p < 0.05) activities, and the serum TG (p < 0.05), TC (p < 0.05), LDL-C (p < 0.05), and the fasting glucose (p < 0.05) concentrations of the NAFLD group were higher than those of the normal control group. The serum 25(OH)VitD3 concentrations of the NAFLD group significantly cor-related negatively with BMI (r = -0.302, p < 0.01), TG (r = -0.221, p < 0.05), and fasting glucose (r = -0.236, p < 0.05). The BMI, TG, and fasting glucose of vitamin D-deficient participants were higher than of the participants with adequate or insufficient levels of vitamin D (p < 0.05). Finally, the BMI of vitamin D-deficient participants was higher than of those with an adequate vitamin D status (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A deficiency of 25(OH)VitD is more common in people from the Hulunbuir region of China than elsewhere. In addition, the vitamin D status is significantly associated with NAFLD; as the serum vitamin D concentration decreases, patients with NAFLD show greater dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia and a higher BMI.