In a new study, researchers found that untreated patients with chronic
hepatitis B virus infection had significantly low levels of vitamin D.
“Given the paucity of information on the role
of vitamin D in [chronic hepatitis B], along with recent data suggesting
vitamin D may contribute to interferon-stimulated gene expression, we
evaluated the baseline serum vitamin D levels and their association with
baseline clinical parameters and clinical outcomes among a large
population of patients with treatment-eligible [chronic hepatitis B]
infection,” the researchers wrote.
Researchers, including Henry Lik-Yuen Chan, MD,
of Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, randomly assigned 740
patients with chronic HBV without advanced liver disease to either 48
weeks of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus pegylated interferon
alfa-2a (PEG-IFN alfa-2a); TDF plus PEG-IFN alfa-2a for 16 weeks
followed by TDF for 32 weeks; PEG-IFN alfa-2a for 48 weeks; or TDF for
120 weeks. Fifty-eight percent of the cohort were positive for hepatitis
B e antigen (HBeAg); 66% were male; and were all randomly assigned
therapy at 139 clinical sites.
“Low baseline vitamin D level was associated with lower baseline ALT
level and a lower tendency to normalize ALT after 48 weeks of
treatment,” the investigators wrote. “Although the effect of vitamin D
on virologic treatment outcomes were largely confounded by different
clinical and virologic factors in this study. Whether a low vitamin D
level contributes to unsuccessful immune clearance and active hepatitis
warrants further study.” – by Melinda Stevens
Chan HL-Y, et al. J Hepatol. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.06.025.
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