Evidence map›Paper›PMID 22371640›Full record

Trial reportWorld journal of gastroenterology2012

Vitamin D improves viral response in hepatitis C genotype 2-3 naïve patients.

Assy Nimer, Abu Mouch

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in World journal of gastroenterology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 69 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
69citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

69 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Vitamin D supplementation for chronic liver diseases in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
    Pooled it
  3. Vitamin D supplementation for chronic liver diseases in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Trial
  7. Trial
  8. Trial
  9. Article
  10. Immune Modulatory Effects of Vitamin D on Herpesvirus Infections.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. Review
  14. Review
  15. Metabolic aspects of hepatitis C virus.World journal of gastroenterology · 2022
    Review
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Herbal immune-boosters: Substantial warriors of pandemic Covid-19 battle.Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology · 2021
    Review
  20. Review

9 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Assy NimerDepartment of Liver, Ziv Medical Center, Safed 13100, Israel. assy.n@ziv.health.gov.il
Abu Mouch

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo examine whether vitamin D improved viral response and predicted treatment outcome in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2-3.

methodsFifty patients with chronic HCV genotype 2-3 were randomized consecutively into two groups: Treatment group [20 subjects, age 48 ± 14 years, body mass index (BMI) 30 ± 6, 65% male], who received 180 μg pegylated α-interferon-2a plus oral ribavirin 800 mg/d (Peg/RBV), together with oral vitamin D3 (Vitamidyne D drops; 2000 IU/d, 10 drops/d, normal serum level > 32 ng/mL) for 24 wk; and control group (30 subjects, age 45 ± 10 years, BMI 26 ± 3, 60% male), who received identical therapy without vitamin D. HCV RNA was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Undetectable HCV RNA at 4, 12 and 24 wk after treatment was considered as rapid virological response, complete early virological response, and sustained virological response (SVR), respectively. Biomarkers of inflammation were measured.

resultsThe treatment group with vitamin D had higher BMI (30 ± 6 vs. 26 ± 3, P < 0.02), and high viral load (> 400,000 IU/mL, 65% vs. 40%, P < 0.01) than controls. Ninety-five percent of treated patients were HCV RNA negative at week 4 and 12. At 24 wk after treatment (SVR), 19/20 (95%) treated patients and 23/30 (77%) controls were HCV RNA negative (P < 0.001). Baseline serum vitamin D levels were lower at baseline (20 ± 8 ng/mL) and increased after 12 wk vitamin D treatment, to a mean level of (34 ± 11 ng/mL). Logistic regression analysis identified vitamin D supplement [odds ratio (OR) 3.0, 95% CI 2.0-4.9, P < 0.001], serum vitamin D levels (< 15 or > 15 ng/mL, OR 2.2, P < 0.01), and BMI (< 30 or > 30, OR 2.6, P < 0.01) as independent predictors of viral response. Adverse events were mild and typical of Peg/RBV.

conclusionLow vitamin D levels predicts negative treatment outcome, and adding vitamin D to conventional Peg/RBV therapy for patients with HCV genotype 2-3 significantly improves viral response.

Indexed as

AdultAntiviral AgentsBody Mass IndexDietary SupplementsFemaleHepacivirusHepatitis CHumansInterferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2MaleMiddle AgedPolyethylene GlycolsRecombinant ProteinsRibavirinTreatment OutcomeAntiviral AgentsInterferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2peginterferon alfa-2bPolyethylene GlycolsRecombinant ProteinsRibavirinVitamin DGenotype 2-3Hepatitis CPeg-interferon alpha 2aSustained viral responseVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID22371640
PMCPMC3286143

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.