Vitamin D status in young children with chronic viral hepatitis C: A retrospective study

Aim. To study the level of vitamin 25(OH)D in young children with chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC) of varying degrees of activity.

Materials and methods. Thirty-two young children (1 to 3 years) with chronic hepatitis C were examined from February 2017 to May 2023. Depending on the grade of increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with respect to the upper limit of normal, patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 included 17 children with minimal CVH activity, Group 2 included 10 patients with low activity, and Group 3 included 5 subjects with moderate activity. Laboratory tests included total protein, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, ALT, AST, total calcium, and vitamin 25(OH)D. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 23 software (developed by IBM, USA).

Results. Children with low and moderate CVH activity had significantly higher ALT and AST values compared to patients with minimal activity of the liver inflammation (p<0.001). All children had an icteric form of hepatitis. Group 2 and 3 patients had vitamin 25(OH)D insufficiency and deficiency. In children with minimal CVH activity, the vitamin D levels were within reference values. The differences in the vitamin 25(OH)D level in Groups 2 and 3 were statistically significant compared to patients of Group 1 (p=0.001). The linear regression analysis of the relationship between total protein and vitamin 25(OH)D showed a close direct correlation.

Conclusion. The level of vitamin 25(OH)D in young children with varying degrees of CHCV activity was reduced due to disruption of protein synthetic processes in the liver tissue.