Re: Vitamin A?

[Guest guest]

Hi ;

Unfortunately vitamin deficiencies are not uncommon in PSC; vitamin

A is the most common deficiency. So Noah's doctors are doing a good

job in testing for such deficiencies!

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J Clin Gastroenterol. 1995 Apr;20(3):215-9.

Serum lipid and fat-soluble vitamin levels in primary sclerosing

cholangitis.

nsen RA, Lindor KD, Sartin JS, LaRusso NF, Wiesner RH.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

We reviewed the initial lipid and fat-soluble vitamin levels in 56

patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) enrolled in a

randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating ursodeoxycholic

acid. We also evaluated lipid and vitamin levels in a group of 87

patients with advanced PSC being evaluated for liver

transplantation. Of the patients entering the therapeutic trial, 41%

had total serum cholesterol levels greater than the 95th percentile,

whereas only 20% had high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

above normal, and only one (2%) had an elevated triglyceride level.

Total cholesterol levels were correlated with serum bilirubin levels

and were lower in early versus later histologic stages (206 +/- 61

vs. 248 +/- 79, p = 0.04). Of the 87 pretransplant patients, 29% had

elevated serum cholesterol levels and 17% had elevated serum

triglyceride levels. Total serum cholesterol levels correlated

inversely with total serum bilirubin levels in this group. In

patients in the therapeutic trial, vitamin A deficiency was seen in

40%, vitamin D deficiency in 14%, and vitamin E deficiency in 2% of

those tested. More prominent deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins

occurred in the pretransplant group of patients, with 82% deficient

in vitamin A, 57% deficient in vitamin D, and 43% deficient in

vitamin E. We conclude that hypercholesterolemia and fat-soluble

vitamin deficiencies are frequent in patients with PSC and are more

common with more severe disease. Patients with PSC, especially with

advanced liver disease, should be screened for fat-soluble vitamin

deficiencies and supplemented accordingly.

Publication Types:

Clinical Trial

Controlled Clinical Trial

PMID: 7797830

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Best regards,

Dave

(father of (20); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

>

> Does anyone know why they would test Noah for Vitamin A? He had a

value of 23 which appears to be low, but I know all this stuff can

be lab-dependent.

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for the wonderful sharing of knowledge. From what I have

read so far, is there not much you can do? I was reading that it is

not readily absorbed in some cases of liver disease.

She did not test this on Monday though and never said anything to me,

I just saw it on the lab sheet she gives me to copy every visit.