The Effect of a Single Intramuscular Injection of Cholecalciferol on the Serum Levels of Vitamin D, Adiponectin, Insulin Resistance, and Liver Function in Women with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Due to the fact that there is evidence indicating the role of Vitamin D in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as insulin resistance (IR) and adipokines production, studies examining Vitamin D on the metabolic factors involving NAFLD is required.

Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of single intramuscular injection of cholecalciferol on serum levels of Vitamin D, biochemical factors, and liver function status of women with NAFLD.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 82 NAFLD patients with Vitamin D deficiency (< 30 ng/mL), who were selected through convenience sampling from October 2015 to March 2016 in Tabriz, Iran, and were randomly assigned into an intervention (a single intramuscular injection of 600,000 IU of cholecalciferol) or control group. Before and after the study, serum glucose, insulin, 25-hydroxy Vitamin D, adiponectin, liver enzymes, calcium, phosphors and parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), body composition, dietary intake, and physical activity level were assessed.

After one month intervention, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D significantly increased in the intervention group vs. the control (24.9 ± 17.4 vs. 9.1 ± 5.6, P = 0.003). Total body fat (TF) decreased in the intervention group (P = 0.001) while visceral fat (VF) was significantly different between the groups (P < 0.001). Adiponectin, calcium, phosphors, and PTH levels increased, while liver enzymes, insulin, and HOMA-IR decreased in both groups (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in mean changes of serum 25(OH) D, PTH, ALT, AST, ALP, and FBS between the groups after adjusting for baseline, TF and VF. Vitamin D injection did improve NAFLD severity (P = 0.01).

Cholecalciferol injection improved Vitamin D status and hepatic steatosis