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Peer-reviewedCC BYDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

  • Mahdi Vajdi1
  • Negin Nikrad2
  • Mahsa Khajeh1
  • Nooshin Noshadi3
  • Mahsa Maroofi4
  • Melika Darzi5
  • Fatemeh Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi2
  • Gholamreza Askari1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
  2. 2Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
  3. 3Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
  4. 4Department of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
  5. 5Student Research Committee, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences
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Abstract

Background Empirical studies examining the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease patients have yielded incongruous outcomes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on liver enzymes (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) in NAFLD patients. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using scientific databases including PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library and Scopus, through May 2026. The search strategy included terms for the interventions (vitamin D, cholecalciferol, calcitriol) and outcomes (ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT) in NAFLD patients. Weighted/standardized mean differences (WMD, SMD) and 95% CI were analyzed utilizing a random-effects model. Results Overall, 16 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The current meta-analysis demonstrates a significant reduction in ALT (SMD: -0.45; 95% CI: − 0.87 to -0.04; P = 0.032), and ALP (WMD: -12.91 IU/L; 95% CI: − 18.75 to -7.08; P < 0.001). However, analysis of studies indicated a non-significant effect on AST, GGT. Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of vitamin D on AST is more pronounced in studies with a dose ≤ 3500 IU/day, duration > 12 weeks and using cholecalciferol (as opposed to calcitriol). Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may be associated with improvements in ALT and ALP levels, while no significant effects were observed for AST and GGT. These results suggest a possible beneficial role of vitamin D in supporting liver function among patients with NAFLD; however, the evidence remains inconclusive. Future studies are needed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on health status in in NAFLD patients. PROSPERO code CRD42024545499

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{vajdi2026effect,
  title = {{The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials}},
  author = {Mahdi Vajdi and Negin Nikrad and Mahsa Khajeh and Nooshin Noshadi and Mahsa Maroofi and Melika Darzi and Fatemeh Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi and Gholamreza Askari},
  journal = {Diabetology \& Metabolic Syndrome},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s13098-026-02225-w},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02225-w},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
AU  - Mahdi Vajdi
AU  - Negin Nikrad
AU  - Mahsa Khajeh
AU  - Nooshin Noshadi
AU  - Mahsa Maroofi
AU  - Melika Darzi
AU  - Fatemeh Pourteymour Fard Tabrizi
AU  - Gholamreza Askari
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
DO  - 10.1186/s13098-026-02225-w
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02225-w
AB  - Background Empirical studies examining the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease patients have yielded incongruous outcomes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on liver enzymes (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) in NAFLD patients. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using scientific databases including PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library and Scopus, through May 2026. The search strategy included terms for the interventions (vitamin D, cholecalciferol, calcitriol) and outcomes (ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT) in NAFLD patients. Weighted/standardized mean differences (WMD, SMD) and 95% CI were analyzed utilizing a random-effects model. Results Overall, 16 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The current meta-analysis demonstrates a significant reduction in ALT (SMD: -0.45; 95% CI: − 0.87 to -0.04; P = 0.032), and ALP (WMD: -12.91 IU/L; 95% CI: − 18.75 to -7.08; P < 0.001). However, analysis of studies indicated a non-significant effect on AST, GGT. Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of vitamin D on AST is more pronounced in studies with a dose ≤ 3500 IU/day, duration > 12 weeks and using cholecalciferol (as opposed to calcitriol). Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may be associated with improvements in ALT and ALP levels, while no significant effects were observed for AST and GGT. These results suggest a possible beneficial role of vitamin D in supporting liver function among patients with NAFLD; however, the evidence remains inconclusive. Future studies are needed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on health status in in NAFLD patients. PROSPERO code CRD42024545499
SN  - 1758-5996
ER  -