Exploring the relationship between vitamin D and hepatic carcinoma in individuals diagnosed with hepatitis B virus infection.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study is to examine the distribution and prognostic implications of serum vitamin D levels among individuals diagnosed with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) attributable to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODS

A total of 345 patients diagnosed with HBV infection were enrolled in our hospital between August 2014 and October 2020. Among these, 144 individuals were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 66 individuals were diagnosed with HBV-related hepatic cirrhosis (HBV cirrhosis), and 135 individuals were diagnosed with HBV-related PHC (HBV-PHC). Peripheral serum levels of vitamin D were measured. Patients with cirrhosis underwent examination using the Child-Pugh grading system, and the mortality rates at 1-year and 3-year intervals for patients with HBV-PHC were analyzed.

RESULTS

Vitamin D levels in peripheral serum in the CHB group, HBV cirrhosis group, and HBV-PHC group exhibited varying degrees of reduction compared to healthy individuals. Significant differences were observed between the three groups (F = 4.02, P = 0.019). No significant difference was observed in vitamin D levels between different Child-Pugh grades within the HBV cirrhosis group (F = 0.89, P = 0.417). However, significant differences were observed in vitamin D levels between different Child-Pugh grades within the HBV-PHC group (F = 4.84, P = 0.009). There was no significant difference in 1-year and 3-year mortality rates between patients diagnosed with HBV-PHC and with varying vitamin D levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D levels decreased to varying degrees in patients diagnosed with CHB, HBV cirrhosis, and PHC. This decrease was well correlated with disease progression (HBV-PHC group < HBV cirrhosis group < CHB group). In cases where hepatic function was comparable, there was no discernible correlation between serum vitamin D level and mortality rates from PHC.