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Research Article: Vitamin D screening and targeted supplementation delays liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Date Published: 2026-09-29

Abstract:
This study aimed to assess the effects of vitamin D screening and targeted supplementation on the progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). A total of 60 inpatients with CLD admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology at Shifang People's Hospital between April 2024 and April 2025 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the study group (S group n =?30) and the control group (C group n =?30). The C group received routine hepatoprotective therapy. The S group received routine therapy plus targeted vitamin D 3 supplementation based on baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 [25(OH)D 3 ] levels for 12 months. Serum 25(OH)D 3 , aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and liver fibrosis markers, such as the AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) score and liver stiffness measurement, were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Efficacy and safety outcomes were compared between the groups. At baseline, there were no significant differences in age, gender, disease etiology, disease duration, 25(OH)D 3 levels, liver function, or fibrosis markers between groups (all P >?0.05). After 12 months of intervention, the study group exhibited significantly higher serum 25(OH)D 3 levels, lower AST and ALT levels, and lower APRI scores and LSMs compared with the C group (all P <?0.05). No severe adverse events occurred. Two patients in the study group reported mild gastrointestinal discomfort, which resolved with symptomatic treatment. Vitamin D screening and personalized supplementation effectively improved vitamin D status in patients with CLD and were associated with favorable reductions in serum liver enzyme levels, in addition to non-invasive surrogate markers of liver fibrosis. Given the limitations of this small single-center unblinded trial, which relied on indirect laboratory and elastographic indicators rather than histological endpoints, large, placebo-controlled studies are required to verify its clinical value before generalized clinical application. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2600124218).

Introduction:
Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a spectrum of disorders characterized by persistent hepatic inflammation and progressive fibrosis, which can eventually lead to liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ( 1 ). Current therapeutic strategies focus on slowing disease progression and managing complications, but effective antifibrotic interventions remain limited ( 2 ). Therefore, identifying safe and accessible interventions to halt or reverse liver fibrosis is clinically urgent. Vitamin D is a multifunctional…

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