Inadequate vitamin D levels are not associated with dietary vitamin D intake in patients with chronic liver diseases but correlate with reduced light exposure as quantified by act…

Background: Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) commonly exhibit vitamin D deficiency due to both environmental and endogenous factors. The vitamin D receptor is expressed in immune and non-parenchymal liver cells and vitamin D is known to affect the defence against bacterial infections in CLD. The specific aim of this study was to assess the associations of exogenous factors such as dietary intake and sunlight exposure with serum vitamin D levels in CLD patients. Patients and Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured with chemiluminescence immunoassay in German patients with viral a…