The effect of vitamin D status on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a population-based observational study

Introduction: The effect of vitamin D status on steatosis has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we planned to investigate this interaction using a large-scale population-based cohort. Material and methods: Patients diagnosed with simple steatosis (K76.0) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (K75.8) by using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) coding system, and who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) measurements at the diagnosis, were included in the study. Control group comprised subjects without liver diseases. Age, gender, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 25OHD levels, and the date of the measurements were recorded. Results: We compared ALT and 25OHD measurements between the patient and control groups, and between the simple steatosis and NASH subgroups. 25OHD levels were lower and ALT levels were higher in the patient group (p < 0.001, effect size = 0.028, and p < 0.001, effect size = 0.442, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that when 25OHD levels decrease by 1 ng/dL, it increases the risk of being in the patient group by 3.7%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that vitamin D status may be related to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although this relationship is weak, it may be important in the pathogenesis of steatosis

Exenatide improves cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective study

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month treatment regimen with exenatide on the lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), visceral adiposity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), all of which are important cardiovascular risk factors. Materials and methods: This study included 45 obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Baseline clinical findings, laboratory parameters, and ultrasonography findings were recorded. An exenatide recipe was given twice daily to the patients and, after 6 months of therapy, the same variables were compared. The compared parameters were lipid profiles, hsCRP, aspartat aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, liver craniocaudal diameter, visceral fat volume, subcutaneous fat thickness, and CIMT. Liver diameter, visceral fat volume, subcutaneous fat thickness, and CIMT were measured by ultrasonography. Results: After therapy, statistically significant improvements were achieved in lipid profile, hsCRP, liver enzymes, body mass index, and waist and hip circumferences. Also, statistically significant decreases were obtained in liver craniocaudal diameter, subcutaneous fat thickness, visceral fat volume, and CIMT. The reduction of CIMT and liver diameter were not correlated with BMI and HbA1c reduction. Conclusion: This study showed improvement in lipid profile and hsCRP levels with exenatide treatment. We also showed decrease in both visceral fat volume and subcutaneous fat thickness. We demonstrated significant decrease in liver enzymes with significant decrease in liver diameter. These findings support the use of exenatide in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. Additionally, this study showed that exenatide treatment given twice daily reduces CIMT in obese T2DM patients

Serum total oxidant/anti-oxidant status, ischemia-modified albumin and oxidized-low density lipoprotein levels in patients with vitamin D deficiency

Objective Oxidative damage may be responsible for the pathogenesis and complications of many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested as a potential mediator of various extra-skeletal pathologies. However, there are limited data on anti-oxidant properties of vitamin D.Materials and methods Forty-one subjects with vitamin D deficiency and 30 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. The levels of total anti-oxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen were measured in both groups. The measurements were repeated in 17 patients after the replacement of vitamin D.Results Serum IMA and TOS levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively), while TAS levels were significantly lower in patients, compared to controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.003), while ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels were similar between two groups. After the replacement of vitamin D, TAS level significantly increased (p = 0.037), and TOS and fibrinogen levels significantly decreased (p = 0.043 and p = 0.010, respectively). Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with IMA and fibrinogen levels (r = -0.500, p < 0.001 and r = -0.391, p = 0.002, respectively), although positively correlated with TAS levels (r = 0.430, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between vitamin D levels, and the TOS, ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels.Conclusions In this study, while serum IMA, TOS and fibrinogen levels were increased, TAS levels were seen to be decreased in patients with vitamin D deficiency. These results suggest that oxidative/anti-oxidative balance shifts in favours of oxidative status in vitamin D deficiency

Serum total oxidant/anti-oxidant status, ischemia-modified albumin and oxidized-low density lipoprotein levels in patients with vitamin D deficiency

Objective Oxidative damage may be responsible for the pathogenesis and complications of many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested as a potential mediator of various extra-skeletal pathologies. However, there are limited data on anti-oxidant properties of vitamin D.Materials and methods Forty-one subjects with vitamin D deficiency and 30 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. The levels of total anti-oxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen were measured in both groups. The measurements were repeated in 17 patients after the replacement of vitamin D.Results Serum IMA and TOS levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively), while TAS levels were significantly lower in patients, compared to controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.003), while ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels were similar between two groups. After the replacement of vitamin D, TAS level significantly increased (p = 0.037), and TOS and fibrinogen levels significantly decreased (p = 0.043 and p = 0.010, respectively). Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with IMA and fibrinogen levels (r = -0.500, p < 0.001 and r = -0.391, p = 0.002, respectively), although positively correlated with TAS levels (r = 0.430, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between vitamin D levels, and the TOS, ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels.Conclusions In this study, while serum IMA, TOS and fibrinogen levels were increased, TAS levels were seen to be decreased in patients with vitamin D deficiency. These results suggest that oxidative/anti-oxidative balance shifts in favours of oxidative status in vitamin D deficiency

The effect of glycemic control on CEA, CA 19-9, amylase and lipase levels

Background: Diabetes mellitus is closely related to pancreas cancer. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of hyperglycemia on tumor and inflammation markers, as well as pancreatic exocrine functions