According to a prospective study, individuals with liver cirrhosis frequently have suppressed vitamin A serology, which is linked to liver function. Michael Nagel et al. aimed to assess the prevalence of serological vitamin A deficiency and its relationship to both the severity of the illness and clinical consequences in liver cirrhosis patients.

The vitamin A status of 159 individuals with preexisting liver cirrhosis who had been exposed to alcohol and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was assessed. Over the course of a 1-year follow-up, clinical problems and infections were monitored and reported. Few findings were verified in a separate cohort of 44 subjects.

As found, 77% of the patients had reduced vitamin A serology at trial enrollment. In comparison to viral-associated liver cirrhosis, alcoholic liver cirrhosis (52% vs. 8%) and NASH-associated liver cirrhosis (16%  vs. 9%) both had higher rates of suppressed vitamin A. Significant correlations were found between Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, Child-Pugh score, and suppressed vitamin A. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses supported the relationship between liver function and the degree of vitamin A suppression.

Following one year of monitoring, 57 individuals passed away and 21 underwent liver transplants. Additionally, individuals with hepatorenal syndromes, hepatic encephalopathy, and severe ascites were more likely to have low vitamin A levels. Patients who had lower vitamin A levels also had more infections, particularly respiratory infections.

Hence, there is an association between serological vitamin A deficiency and the severity of the illness and clinical consequences. Subjects with liver cirrhosis and vitamin A suppression experience higher clinical problems and infections.