Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency in Decompensated Patients with Cirrhosis Is Associated with Improvement in Frailty

Background/aim: Frailty is increasingly recognized as a relevant prognostic factor in patients with cirrhosis, regardless of liver failure. Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in these patients and has been related to frailty and sarcopenia, but the impact of its supplementation on frailty in cirrhosis is unknown. The aim was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on frailty in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. Methods: We included patients with cirrhosis who had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency following their hospitalization for acute decompensation. Vitamin D was supplemented according to current recommendations, as were other micronutrients if necessary. Patients were followed for one year to evaluate changes at 6 and 12 months in frailty (Fried frailty index), health-related quality of life (SF-36, CLDQ) and mood (HADS). Body composition was assessed by DXA at baseline and at 12 months. Results: We included 39 patients, 27 of whom reached the 6-month follow-up. Serum vitamin D increased at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.001 compared to baseline). Fried frailty index improved at the 6-month visit (p = 0.004), and handgrip strength improved at 6 (p = 0.001) and 12 (p = 0.002) months, similarly in women and men. At 12 months, we observed an increase in body mass index, right arm lean mass and total fat mass. Conclusions: A multifactorial nutritional intervention, especially vitamin D supplementation after discharge in decompensated, vitamin D-deficient patients with cirrhosis, was associated with an improvement in frailty, muscular strength and lean muscle mass. However, the increase in fat mass strengthens the recommendation for diet, exercise and weight supervision.