Correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, that is 25(OH)D3, level and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 238 patients with T2DM were selected from the Department of Endocrinology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2017 to June 2018. They were divided into simple T2DM group (n=111) and T2DM with NAFLD group (n=127). In addition, 30 healthy persons in the same period were selected as healthy control group. The single-factor variance analysis was used to compare the differences among groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum 25(OH)D3 and clinical indicators. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of NAFLD. Results The level of 25(OH)D3 in T2DM with NAFLD group was lower than that in simple T2DM group and healthy control group, and the level of 25(OH)D3 in simple T2DM group was lower than that in healthy control group (P<0.05). 25(OH)D3 was negatively correlated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (r=-0.154, P=0.018), Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (r=-0.161, P=0.013), triglyceride (r=-0.148, P=0.022) and the course of diabetes mellitus (r=-0.161, P=0.013). 25(OH)D3 was the protective factor of NAFLD (P=0.006, 95% CI: 0.848-0.967). Conclusions In patients with T2DM, serum 25(OH)D3 level is related to NAFLD, and it is a protective factor of the disease. Key words: 25-hydroxyvitamin D3; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Insulin resistance; Risk factors