NAFLD associated with low vitamin D (in children too) – meta-analysis

The Level of Vitamin D in Children and Adolescents with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Zhu S#1, Wang Y#2, Luo F1, Liu J1, Xiu L1, Qin J3, Wang T2, Yu N2, Wu H4, Zou T1.

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BACKGROUND:

The relationship between vitamin D level and NAFLD has not been investigated in children and adolescents. We performed a meta-analysis of published observational studies to assess this association between vitamin D levels (measured as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D]) and NAFLD in this age group.

METHODS:

Relevant studies conducted before May 20, 2018, were identified from the following electronic databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and the Chinese CNKI databases. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, and associations between vitamin D levels and NAFLD were estimated using standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were used to identify sources of heterogeneity, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots.

RESULTS:

Eight articles were included in this meta-analysis. A significant difference was observed between low 25(OH)D levels and NAFLD in children and adolescents (SMD = -0.59, 95%CI = -0.98, -0.20, P <  0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed no differences in the study type, geographic location, BMI, and age subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Low vitamin D levels were associated with NAFLD in children and adolescents.