Serum 25-Hydroxy D3 Levels in Different Severity of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels across different stages of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) severity. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three participants with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m²) were included in the study. MASLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated based on liver biopsies, and participants were divided into three groups: mild MASLD (n=15, NAS ≤2), moderate MASLD (n=23, NAS 3–4), and severe MASLD (n=15, NAS ≥5). Blood samples were collected, and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (25.9 ± 9.10 ng/mL and 21.9 ± 7.14 ng/mL, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (34.5 ± 10.19 ng/mL). Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were lower in the severe MASLD group compared to other groups (165.0 ± 38.64 mg/dL and 39.8 ± 8.33 mg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, serum folic acid levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (13.8 ± 4.00 nmol/L and 14.9 ± 4.38 nmol/L, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (17.9 ± 3.98 nmol/L). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and NAS were not significantly different between genders. Serum vitamin D levels showed an inverse correlation with NAS (r = −0.332, p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are associated with increasing severity of MASLD. Vitamin D deficiency may play a potential role in disease progression and could serve as a biomarker for disease severity. Future studies are warranted to explore whether vitamin D supplementation could improve clinical outcomes in patients with MASLD.

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• Public Health Nutrition

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References

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Cite this publication

@article{goktas2025serum,
  author = {G{\"o}kta{\c{s}}, Zeynep and Galyean, Shannon and Syn, David and Kahramanoglu Aksoy, Evrim and Wang, Shu and Boylan, Mallory},
  title = {{Serum 25-Hydroxy D3 Levels in Different Severity of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)}},
  journal = {Current Research in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Journal},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {11--20},
  publisher = {Hacettepe {\"U}niversitesi},
  year = {2025},
  month = {7},
  url = {https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/serum-25-hydroxy-d3-levels-in-different-severity-of-metabolic-dysfunction-associated-steatotic-liver-disease-masld},
  language = {en},
  keywords = {Public Health Nutrition},
  abstract = {Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels across different stages of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) severity. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three participants with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m²) were included in the study. MASLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated based on liver biopsies, and participants were divided into three groups: mild MASLD (n=15, NAS ≤2), moderate MASLD (n=23, NAS 3--4), and severe MASLD (n=15, NAS ≥5). Blood samples were collected, and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (25.9 ± 9.10 ng/mL and 21.9 ± 7.14 ng/mL, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (34.5 ± 10.19 ng/mL). Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were lower in the severe MASLD group compared to other groups (165.0 ± 38.64 mg/dL and 39.8 ± 8.33 mg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, serum folic acid levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (13.8 ± 4.00 nmol/L and 14.9 ± 4.38 nmol/L, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (17.9 ± 3.98 nmol/L). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and NAS were not significantly different between genders. Serum vitamin D levels showed an inverse correlation with NAS (r = −0.332, p \< 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are associated with increasing severity of MASLD. Vitamin D deficiency may play a potential role in disease progression and could serve as a biomarker for disease severity. Future studies are warranted to explore whether vitamin D supplementation could improve clinical outcomes in patients with MASLD.},
  affiliation = {HACETTEPE {\"U}N{\.I}VERS{\.I}TES{\.I} and Texas Tech University and Advanced Bariatric Surgery Center and UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES and Arizona State University and Texas Tech University}
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Göktaş, Zeynep
AU  - Galyean, Shannon
AU  - Syn, David
AU  - Kahramanoglu Aksoy, Evrim
AU  - Wang, Shu
AU  - Boylan, Mallory
TI  - Serum 25-Hydroxy D3 Levels in Different Severity of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
T2  - Current Research in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Journal
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/07/22/
SP  - 11
EP  - 20
PB  - Hacettepe Üniversitesi
UR  - https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/serum-25-hydroxy-d3-levels-in-different-severity-of-metabolic-dysfunction-associated-steatotic-liver-disease-masld
AB  - Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels across different stages of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) severity. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three participants with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m²) were included in the study. MASLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated based on liver biopsies, and participants were divided into three groups: mild MASLD (n=15, NAS ≤2), moderate MASLD (n=23, NAS 3–4), and severe MASLD (n=15, NAS ≥5). Blood samples were collected, and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (25.9 ± 9.10 ng/mL and 21.9 ± 7.14 ng/mL, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (34.5 ± 10.19 ng/mL). Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were lower in the severe MASLD group compared to other groups (165.0 ± 38.64 mg/dL and 39.8 ± 8.33 mg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, serum folic acid levels were significantly lower in the moderate and severe MASLD groups (13.8 ± 4.00 nmol/L and 14.9 ± 4.38 nmol/L, respectively) compared with the mild MASLD group (17.9 ± 3.98 nmol/L). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and NAS were not significantly different between genders. Serum vitamin D levels showed an inverse correlation with NAS (r = −0.332, p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are associated with increasing severity of MASLD. Vitamin D deficiency may play a potential role in disease progression and could serve as a biomarker for disease severity. Future studies are warranted to explore whether vitamin D supplementation could improve clinical outcomes in patients with MASLD.
KW  - Public Health Nutrition
LA  - en
AD  - HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ
AD  - Texas Tech University
AD  - Advanced Bariatric Surgery Center
AD  - UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
AD  - Arizona State University
AD  - Texas Tech University
ER  -