Metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and serum vitamin D concentration in South Korea.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently been renamed as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) to reflect metabolic dysfunction. Vitamin D regulates free fatty acid flux from the periphery to the liver. The association MAFLD and vitamin D has been controversial. We investigated the association of MAFLD, nutrient intake, and vitamin D status in South Korean adults.We analyzed patient responses from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (KNHANES) 2010-2011. The disease group was selected as per the latest guidelines. Steatosis was evaluated by the fatty liver index (FLI). Frequency analysis was performed on general characteristics. We compared differences in nutritional status using complex sample adjusted chi-square tests and generalized linear models. After adjusting for age, complex sample logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between MAFLD and vitamin D.Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), LDL, triglyceride, creatinine, glucose, nutrient intake, and serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly elevated while HDL was reduced in the disease group than in the control group. The OR for 25(OH)D was 1.015 (95% CI: 1.004-1.026, p<0.0001). However, MAFLD presented no significant association with vitamin D concentration (OR 1.010, 95% CI: 0.985-1.037, p=0.431) after adjusting for age.We found no significant relationship between MAFLD and serum vitamin D concentration in South Korean adults.