TF and vitamin D deficiency: As for the other biochemical parameters analysed in serum (blood count, zinc, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], iron, transferrin, iron transport capacity, transferrin saturation index [TSI], ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphate, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol), 39% of the patients had a reduced TSI, 26.1% had elevated ALT levels (>35 U/L), and 88.9% had a vitamin D insufficiency (<30 ng/mL), a finding that was statistically significant (p < 0.0035; r = −0.595).