VITAMIN D LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B, CHRONIC HEPATITIS C, AND HEALTH CONTROLS

Abstract

Purpose: Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infection are the most common cause of acute and chronic hepatitis. Over the past decade, numerous studies reported that patients with chronic liver disease, especially HCV-positive and HBV-positive patients, have decreased 25(OH)D levels compared to healthy people. The aim of the present study has been to establish the incidence and severity of Vitamin D deficiency in a cohort of Macedonian patients with chronic hepatitis B and C and health controls. Material/Methods: This pilot study was performed in Clinical hospital in Bitola (R. Macedonia). The total number of participants was 148, 103 of them were healthy people, 23 were chronic hepatitis C, and 22 were chronic hepatitis B patients. The serum was separated, and Vitamin D levels, HBsAg and Anti HCV titers were measured by using Abbot Architect platform. Results: We established that the Macedonian population suffers from a deficiency of vitamin D. Vitamin D levels are lower in healthy women, and women with hepatitis B and C compared with males. We found that Vitamin D is significantly lower in patients with hepatitis B compared to control group, but there is not a significant correlation between this two groups, and we can clearly state that HBV- infected patients are at high risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Conclusions: We confirmed that only 12% of all examinated subjects (n = 145) had values ​​of vitamin D within normal limits. This indicates the need to consume foods rich in Vitamin D, require higher sun exposure or vitamin D supplementation should be recommended in healthy people, patients with chronic hepatitis C and B.

Keywords

• hepatitis B virus
• hepatitis C vitus
• vitamin D
• health controls