Article

Received 10.02.2026

Revised 04.05.2026

Accepted 05.06.2026

Retrieved from Vol. 2, No. 2, 2026

Pages 43 -56

Demianenko, I. (2026). The role of vitamin D in modulating immune response and inflammatory markers in paediatric autoimmune liver disorders. Journal of Human Biology and Clinical Medicine, 2(2), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.63621/jhbcm/2.2026.43

The role of vitamin D in modulating immune response and inflammatory markers in paediatric autoimmune liver disorders

Iryna Demianenko

Given the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among the paediatric population in Ukraine, a need has emerged to explore its role in regulating hepatic fibrogenesis in juvenile autoimmune liver diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of long-term vitamin D supplementation in modifying serological and imaging markers of fibrosis in children with autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis. The research was based on a prospective cohort observation conducted from March 2024 to March 2025, involving patients from specialised medical centres in Ukraine, and applying laboratory testing, two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and statistical analysis. The results indicated that with a high cumulative annual dose of vitamin D exceeding 500,000 IU, the mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level increased to 111.3 ± 19.9 nmol/L, while the level of hyaluronic acid decreased to 9.2 ± 7.1 ng/mL, in contrast to the control group where the respective figures were 63.5 ± 19.9 nmol/L and 20.7 ± 9.2 ng/mL (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A statistically significant inverse correlation between these biomarkers was established (r = -0.49; p = 0.018) in the high-dose group, confirming a dose-dependent effect of the nutritional intervention. Liver tissue stiffness parameters according to elastography remained stable, showing no significant changes after 12 months of therapy. It was concluded that high-dose vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in fibrogenesis activity, as evidenced serologically, though not accompanied by morphological changes in tissue stiffness. The study’s findings may be applied in clinical practice to facilitate non-invasive monitoring of treatment efficacy and improve personalised nutritional support protocols for children with chronic autoimmune liver diseases

fibrosis; parenchymal stiffness; hyaluronic acid; nutritional therapy; two-dimensional shear wave elastography; paediatric population; calcium-phosphate homeostasis
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