Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Related to Frailty and Sarcopenia in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Low vitamin D status is related to frailty and/or sarcopenia in elderly individuals. However, these relationships are unclear in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). This study aimed at exploring the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and frailty or sarcopenia in 231 patients with CLD. Frailty was determined based on five factors (weight loss, low physical activity, weakness, slowness, and exhaustion). Sarcopenia was diagnosed by applying the Japan Society of Hepatology criteria. The patients were classified into three groups according to baseline 25(OH)D levels: low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) vitamin D (VD) groups. Of the 231 patients, 70 (30.3%) and 66 (28.6%) had frailty and sarcopenia, respectively. The prevalence rate of frailty and sarcopenia significantly increased stepwise with a decline in the vitamin D status. The L-VD group showed the highest prevalence rates of frailty and sarcopenia (49.1% (28/57), p < 0.001 for both), whereas the H-VD group showed the lowest prevalence rates of frailty (15.3% (9/59)) and sarcopenia (18.6% (11/59)) (p < 0.001 for both). Multivariate analysis identified serum 25(OH)D levels as a significant independent factor related to frailty and sarcopenia. Serum 25(OH)D levels significantly correlated with handgrip strength, skeletal muscle mass index, and gait speed. In conclusion, low serum vitamin D level, especially severe vitamin D deficient status, is closely related to frailty and sarcopenia in patients with CLD.