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Alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients require frequent vitamin D testing, study finds

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Individuals who suffer from alcoholic cirrhosis may benefit from vitamin D testing, as a new study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology has found that low levels of the nutrient are very common in people who suffer from the disease.

Vitamin D deficiency is well documented in individuals who suffer from non-alcohol-related cirrhosis. However, the researchers said that less was known about whether individuals who suffer from alcohol-induced cirrhosis also have low levels of the nutrient.

To answer this question, the team reviewed the findings of previously published studies concerning cirrhosis and vitamin D status. They found that deficiencies are actually more common in people who developed the condition as a result of drinking than it among those with other forms of liver disease.

The researchers conclude that frequent vitamin D testing is important for individuals who suffer from alcohol-induced cirrhosis. This may help them avoid a deficiency, which is important considering low levels of vitamin D have been connected to poor immune health and increased risk of heart disease and some cancers.