Effects of vitamin D supplementation on liver fibrogenic factors, vitamin D receptor and liver fibrogenic microRNAs in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients: an exploratory randomized clinical trial.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a global metabolic problem which can lead to irreversible liver fibrosis.

However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on liver fibrosis related factors have not been examined.

This double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial was designed to investigate the effects on vitamin D supplementation on serum levels of VDR, fibrogenic factors and fibrogenic MicroRNAs in MASLD patients.

Why It Was Studied

(available at: http://www.irct.ir, identifier: IRCT201405251485N13), Registration date: 14-03-2017.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

As a double-blind Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc could be set against what happens without it.

Weight, height and waist circumference were measured.

Serum fibrogenic microRNAs, laminin, collagen type IV, hyaluronic acid, vitamin D, VDR, PTH, blood fasting glucose, serum fasting insulin, lipid profile, ALT and AST were determined at the baseline and at the end of the trial.

Insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity were calculated using the HOMA-IR and QUICKI equation.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Receptors, Calcitriol, MicroRNAs, Hyaluronic Acid, Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D, Vitamins and Insulin Resistance.

Author keywords: Clinical trial, Fibrogenic factor and Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 6 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2024 (Nutrition journal), a journal based in England.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, all human trials.