Z Gastroenterol 2018; 56(01): E2-E89
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1612718
Poster Visit Session II Clinical Hepatology – Friday, January 26, 2018, 2:35pm – 3:20pm, Room 120
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of gene variants controlling vitamin D metabolism and serum levels on hepatic steatosis

M Jamka
1   Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan
,
A Arslanow
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
,
A Bohner
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
,
M Krawczyk
3   Medical University of Warsaw, Laboratory of Metabolic Liver Diseases, Center for Preclinical Research, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Warsaw
,
S Weber
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
,
F Grünhage
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
4   Grevenbroich St. Elisabeth Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Grevenbroich
,
F Lammert
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
,
C Stokes
2   Saarland University Medical Center, Department of Medicine II, Homburg
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
03 January 2018 (online)

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Background and aims:

Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that vitamin D modulates the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations have been negatively correlated with hepatic steatosis. Previously we reported an association between common genetic variation in vitamin D metabolism and liver stiffness (Grünhage et al. 2012), however, the relationship between polymorphisms in genes related to vitamin D metabolism and liver steatosis remains unclear. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between key variants in genes controlling vitamin D metabolism and hepatic steatosis.

Patients and methods:

Liver steatosis was assessed non-invasively by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in 241 patients with chronic liver conditions (43% women, median age 55 years, median BMI 29.3 kg/m2). The following polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-based allelic discrimination assays with 5'-nuclease and fluorescence detection: group-specific component (GC) rs7041, 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) rs12785878, cytochrome P450 2R1 (CYP2R1) rs10741657, vitamin D receptor (VDR) rs7974353. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results:

Vitamin D deficiency occurred in 66% of patients, (defined by 25(OH)D concentrations < 20 ng/ml). Median CAP was 296 (100 – 400) dB/m. Patients with advanced steatosis (CAp ≥280 dB/m) had significantly (p = 0.033) lower 25(OH)D levels as compared to patients with CAP < 280 dB/m. Moreover, the rare allele [T] in GC rs7041 was significantly (p = 0.018) associated with higher 25(OH)D levels in patients with CAP < 280 dB/m. However, GC, DHCR7, CYP2R1 and VDR polymorphisms were not related to liver steatosis and obesity traits.

Conclusions:

Low serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with higher CAP values. However, no direct association between common variants of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and liver steatosis was detected.