Effect of Vitamin D on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

Abstract

New evidence suggests that low serum Vitamin D may cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hypovitaminosis D is associated with the severity and incidence of NAFLD. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of Vitamin D on serum metabolic profle among NAFLD patients. Databases including PubMed, Institute for Scientifc Information Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched up to November 2016. RCTs which studied Vitamin D effect on metabolic profles and liver function, and conducted among adults were included. Six articles were eligible
to be considered in this systematic review. According to the result, Vitamin D supplementation might improve lipid profle and inflammatory mediators when compared with placebo. No article indicated signifcant effect of Vitamin D on liver enzymes except one article which revealed that
Vitamin D together with calcium carbonate can reduce liver enzymes. Vitamin D supplementation may not improve anthropometric measures and glycemic index variables among patients with NAFLD. Vitamin D supplement might improve NAFLD symptoms, especially inflammatory
mediators. More RCTs in different parts of world with different forms and doses of Vitamin D are necessary.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, systematic review, Vitamin D