Effects of vitamin D supplementation on liver fibrogenic factors, vitamin D receptor and liver fibrogenic microRNAs in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients: an exploratory randomized clinical trial

Study answer

What this study found

Vitamin D supplementation showed a favorable effect on several surrogate markers of liver injury and fibrogenesis in MASLD. Serum 25(OH)D increased and VDR rose significantly, while HDL-C improved and ALT, AST, fasting glucose, LDL-C, and total cholesterol decreased versus placebo. Key between-group differences were reported for 25(OH)D (p < 0.001), VDR (p = 0.008), HDL-C (p < 0.001), ALT (p < 0.001), AST (p = 0.001), fasting glucose (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p = 0.01), and total cholesterol (p = 0.03). Fibrogenic markers laminin and hyaluronic acid were also reduced, and MiR-21 and MiR-122…

Study & population

Exploratory randomized clinical trial in adults aged 20 to 60 years with MASLD and NASH confirmed by ultrasound and FibroScan, who were overweight or obese and not taking vitamin D supplements at baseline.

Intervention

Vitamin D was given as oral tablets at 4000 IU daily with the main meals for 12 weeks.

Key limitation

This was an exploratory study with a small active arm and short 12-week duration, so findings are hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory.

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Original abstract