Vitamin D in preclinical models of fatty liver disease

Abstract

Simple steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when excessive fat accumulation is accompanied by ballooning, inflammation, and progressive hepatocellular injury. Due to the increasing global incidence of NAFLD/NASH and the lack of effective drugs, current treatment options are currently dominated by lifestyle interventions, including dietary and physical activity modifications. In this regard, Vitamin D has received widespread attention in recent years. In line with its pleiotropic physiological effects, preclinical animal models and patient cohorts have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-proliferative effects of Vitamin D on NAFLD and NASH. Several animal models have confirmed the association of Vitamin D deficiency and NALFD/NASH severity in humans and revealed potential benefits of dietary Vitamin D supplementation. These preclinical models also provide critical guidance to define the roles and therapeutic potential of Vitamin D as well as its downstream functional mechanisms in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease. This review summarizes Vitamin D research in currently available animal models of fatty liver disease.