Vitamin D3 improves liver histology and hepatic gene expression in a murine obesity/NASH model independent of intestinal FGF15

Background and aims: 25-OH vitamin D3 (VD3) serum levels negatively correlate with obesity and NAFLD in humans, the mechanisms linking low VD3 status to disease progression are, however, not fully understood. The gut-derived hormone FGF19 (FGF15 in mice) impacts on liver metabolism and induces various beneficial effects that may help to treat obesity and NAFLD. Previous data has shown that Fgf15 transcription in mice can be induced by short-term VD3 administration. In the present study, we analysed whether long-term VD3 treatment ameliorates NASH in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and whether this may be a…