[Hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders as risk factors for fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies].

The aim of this article is to describe the fat-soluble vitamin status in patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases, and the contribution of these vitamin deficiency or excess to hepatic injury. A considerable number of patients with advanced liver disease and cholestasis might actually be fat-soluble vitamin deficient, although clinical signs of deficiency are uncommonly seen in patients with vitamin A and E deficiency. Increased bone resorption may be the predominant cause of hepatic osteodystrophy. On the other hand, the possible causes of vitamin K deficiency seen in patients with hepatobiliary disease are the decrease of vitamin K absorption from intestine, the disturbance of vitamin K cycle and the decrease of pool area for vitamin K storage. The intake of vitamin A may be associated with the risk of liver cirrhosis in lifetime teetotalers, although the retinyl palmitate reduces hepatic fibrosis in rats.