Effect of daily calcitriol supplementation with and without calcium on disease regression in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients following an energy-restricted diet: Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

Summary Background and aims Despite evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin D, to our knowledge, no study has compared the effects of calcium supplementation with vitamin D on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) regression during a hypo-energetic program. We compared the effect of the vitamin D supplementation with and without calcium on anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters in NAFLD patients during a weight-loss program. Methods A 12-week, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was conducted in 120 NAFLD patients randomly assigned to receive 25 μg calcitriol (n=37), 500 mg calcium carbonate+ 25 μg calcitriol (n=37), or placebo (n=36) every day with their lunch meals while following a weight-loss program. Results Weight, BMI and fat mass reduction were significant in each group after 12 wk of intervention (p