Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection

Objective: To evaluate the association of vitamin D deficiency with hepatitis B and C virus Infection.

Study Design: This is a prospective study.

Setting: Study carried out at Medicine department Civil Hospital Karachi, from March, 2018 to December, 2019.

Materials and Methods: 266 Participants of the study included patients with active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection visiting OPD of the hospital. Vitamin D levels of 14-30 ng/ml have been described as insufficient and levels <14 ng/ml are labelled as deficient. Vitamin D level of >30 nm/ml have been defined as sufficient according to our study. Diagnosis of Hepatitis B is confirmed by HBV DNA and HBsAg serum levels and of Hepatitis C by HCV RNA levels.

Results: We received 70.6% (n=266) males and 29.3% females. After serological tests 34.9% (n=93) patients were positive for HBV DNA whereas 47.7% (n=127) patients were positive for HCV DNA. Coinfection with hepatitis B and C was present in 17.2% (n=46) of patients. Amongst total 266 participants 54.31% patients have been vitamin D deficient and 32.7% have insufficient vitamin D levels.

Conclusion: Genetic and metabolic factors linked to hepatitis B and C with vitamin D deficiency should be studied on large scale. In our study patients infected with HBV and HCV have been vitamin D deficient, supplementation needs to be added to the treatment regimen.