Effect of vitamin D deficiency on spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhosis: a meta-analysis

Introduction
Few studies have reported the relationship between spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhosis and vitamin D, and the result is not very convincing.

Aim
To conduct a meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between vitamin D and spontaneous peritonitis.

Material and methods
Articles published up to 1 October 2019 in the PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were searched. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, relevant statistical data were extracted and analysed by STATA.

Results
Six articles met the inclusion criteria. It was demonstrated that the average 25(OH)D level in spontaneous peritonitis patients was 2.36 less than that in control individuals (SMD = –2.36, 95% CI: –3.92, –0.8, I2 = 97.2%, p < 0.01). Moreover, it found that spontaneous peritonitis patients were 4.33 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than controls (OR = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.57, 11.93, I2 = 50.1%, p = 0.111). Sensitivity analysis showed that the meta-analysis results were stable and reliable.

Conclusions
Vitamin D may be an importantly protective factor in spontaneous peritonitis.