Relationships between blood levels of fat soluble vitamins and disease etiology and severity in adults awaiting liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although malnutrition is common in liver disease, there are limited data on fat soluble vitamins in various diseases. The aims of this study were to: (i) determine fat soluble vitamin levels in patients assessed for liver transplantation; (ii) compare levels between different disease etiologies (hepatocellular and cholestatic) and between subgroups of hepatocellular disease; and (iii) assess the multivariate contribution to vitamin levels of etiology and various indicators of disease severity.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 107 inpatients awaiting liver transplantation, mean age 47 years. Biochemical parameters included plasma retinol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, and vitamin E. Biochemical (albumin, bilirubin and zinc) and clinical indicators (Child-Pugh and Model of End Stage Liver Disease [MELD] scores) of disease severity were determined.

RESULTS: Deficiencies of retinol (< 1.0 µmol/L), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (< 50 nmol/L) and vitamin E (< 11 µmol/L) were present in 75%, 66% and 3%, respectively, of patients. Concentrations of retinol and vitamin E were lower in hepatocellular than cholestatic disease but 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were similar. Child-Pugh score was higher in hepatocellular than cholestatic disease. Concentrations of retinol were lower in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) than hepatitis and Child-Pugh score was higher in ALD. For the whole group, levels of retinol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and vitamin E were negatively related to Child-Pugh score, MELD score and bilirubin, and positively related to albumin. When Child-Pugh scores were controlled for, retinol was lower in the hepatocellular group.

CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of fat soluble vitamin deficiencies with vitamin levels being related to disease severity. Retinol was lower in the hepatocellular group.