Aykut ÖZMEN, Ali Tüzün İNCE
İstanbul Medical Journal - 2026;27(3):219-224
Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is frequently observed in people with cirrhosis, underscoring the liver's essential role in metabolizing vitamin D. This research sought to assess 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in individuals with cirrhosis and to evaluate the association between these levels and disease extent, etiologies, and cirrhosis-related complications. Methods: This study included 118 adult patients with cirrhosis who were evaluated at the Gastroenterology Department of Bezmialem Vakıf University. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 90 years. The study excluded individuals who were pregnant; had taken vitamin D supplements in the past six months; or had non- hepatocellular carcinoma malignancies, hematologic cancers, metabolic bone diseases, chronic kidney disease, parathyroid disorders, had undergone thyroidectomy, or other chronic conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism. The severity of liver disease was assessed using the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (Child-Pugh) classification and the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Data were examined with SPSS version 20.0. Results: The average age of the patients was 58.7+/-11.8 years, with 56.8% being male. Cirrhosis was attributed to cryptogenic causes in 53.4% of cases, to hepatitis B virus in 28.80%, to hepatitis C virus in 8.50%, to alcohol in 7.60%, and to drugs in 1.70%. A deficiency in vitamin D was detected in 93.2% of the patients; 5.10% had insufficient levels, and only 1.70% had normal levels. Serum 25(OH)D levels demonstrated a positive correlation with albumin (p=0.003), total cholesterol (p=0.035), and triglycerides (p=0.006), and were negatively correlated with prothrombin time (p=0.003), international normalized ratio (p=0.011), Child-Pugh score (p=0.008), and MELD score (p=0.045). The levels of vitamin D did not significantly differ based on the cause of cirrhosis or the presence of cirrhosis-related complications. Conclusion: Vitamin D insufficiency is a frequent problem among individuals with cirrhosis, regardless of its underlying cause. Reduced vitamin D levels are related to increasingly severe liver disease and to reduced liver function, rather than to the cause or complications of cirrhosis.
