Research Note: Vitamin D in Cats with Liver Disease

Humans with chronic cholestatic liver disease (CLD) have deficiencies in vitamin D. Cats with inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal small cell lymphoma, and some infections have also been shown to be deficient in vitamin D. This prospective study compared vitamin D levels in cats with CLD with vitamin D levels in cats with nonhepatobiliary illness. Median serum vitamin D levels were similar between the groups, although low vitamin D occurred in a greater percentage of cats with CLD. Lower vitamin D was moderately correlated with higher WBC counts. Further study into the cause and clinical significance of these findings is warranted.