Association between serum calcium levels and the risk of liver cirrhosis / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the association between serum calcium levels and the risk of liver cirrhosis.Methods A nested case-control study was performed based on the nutritional intervention trial of esophageal carcinoma in Linxian,Henan province.Serum samples of 281 liver cirrhosis cases and 562 controls were tested for calcium concentrations,surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (anti-HBc) on Hepatitis virus B and antibody on Hepatitis virus C (anti-HCV),using automatic serum biochemical analysis system and enzyme-linked immunoassay.Data on baseline characteristics were collected via a questionnaire.Serum calcium value was divided into tertiles and logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios and 95％ confidence intervals.Results Individuals in the case group showed higher calcium levels (1.81 ± 0.84)mmol/L when compared to the controls (1.65 ± 0.79)mmol/L,with t =-2.640 and P=0.008.The calcium levels were associated with the risk of liver cirrhosis (x2=6.888,P=0.0319).Risks for the individuals in the highest tertile were doubled when compared to the lowest (adjusted OR=2.261,95％CI:1.497-3.416,P=0.002).A positive correlation was observed between serum calcium level and the risk of liver cirrhosis (x2=6.842,P=0.0089).Conclusion Results from our study revealed that the elevated serum calcium level might be an independent risk factor for liver cirrhosis.However,further investigations are anticipated to explore its potential mechanisms.

Prospective study on the relation between serum vitamin D levels and liver cirrhosis risk / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relation between serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and liver cirrhosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A nested case control study was designed based on the Nutrition Intervention Trial (NIT) cohort, from which non-degraded serum samples and complete baseline and follow-up data were available for 282 individuals diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and 564 healthy controls. The serum samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect and quantify 25(OH)D, as well as hepatitis B virus surface antigen and core antibody and hepatitis C virus antibody. The study participants were divided into four groups according to quartile range of 25(OH)D concentration and logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the relation with liver cirrhosis risk by estimating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The liver cirrhosis group had a significantly lower concentration of 25(OH)D than the control group (median and quartile range in nmol/L, cases: 15.3 and 13.8; controls: 20.2 and 16.6; t = 5.169, P = 0.002). When the first interval was set as the reference level, the ORs(95% CIs) of the second, third, and fourth intervals were: 0.495(0.333 - 0.736), 0.452(0.303 - 0.675), and 0.349(0.231- 0.527). After adjusting the analysis for the presence of pathogenic-related confounding factors, the ORs(95% CIs) of the second, third, and fourth intervals were: 0.499(0.328 - 0.759), 0.427(0.278 - 0.654), and 0.344(0.222-0.532). The 25(OH)D level was inversely correlated with risk of liver cirrhosis (Chi2 = 25.200, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Risk of liver cirrhosis increases as 25(OH)D serum concentration decreases. Vitamin D might function as a protective factor against development of cirrhosis.</p>

Prospective study of the association between fasting glucose concentrations and liver cirrhosis risk / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between concentration levels of fasting serum glucose and liver cirrhosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A nested case-control study was carried out based on the sample cohort from the Nutrition Intervention Trials previously conducted in one country in Henan province. Using an automatic biochemical analysis system and enzyme-linked immunoassay, baseline serum samples from 310 liver cirrhosis patients and 620 healthy controls were tested for fasting glucose concentration, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV). Baseline demographic information was collected by questionnaire. The serum glucose values were divided into quintiles and applied to a logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean fasting blood glucose level was significantly higher in cases (4.5+/-1.8 mmol/L) than in controls (4.2+/-2.1 mmol/L) (t=-2.414, P=0.016). The individuals in the highest quintile had a significantly higher risk of disease than those in the lowest quintile [OR=1.672 (1.080, 2.588)]. Moreover, increase in glucose level was accompanied by increased risk, and the relation showed statistically significant linearity (P=0.002). The statistical significance of risk remained after adjustment for potential confounders, including sex, age, HBsAg, anti-HBc, and residence running water status [OR=1.96 (1.216, 3.157), P=0.001].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Elevated serum fasting glucose concentration was an independent risk factor of cirrhosis.</p>